Aleve Drug Interactions
Aleve is a pain-relieving drug that is available to consumers en masse to help manage pain and inflammation associated with health conditions. A drug interaction occurs when one specific drug causes an adverse effect with another drug within the body. These effects can be either synergistic or antagonistic in nature, which is why you should monitor and regulate your medication use.
According to scientific studies, Aleve causes 42 major drug interactions, and there are over 300 other moderate interactions. The main ingredient in Aleve that causes interactions with other drugs is naproxen, the primary chemical responsible for pain relieving action.
Significant Aleve Drug Interactions
The main ingredient in Aleve, naproxen, is responsible for causing either synergistic or antagonistic drug interactions, which can enhance or inhibit the pain relieving effect, respectively. Drug interactions can be categorized by mechanism of actions and the severity of symptoms induced. These symptoms range in severity due to which tissues are influenced by their consumption. Additionally, the adverse reactions created by drug interactions will rely on the active ingredients contained in the specific drug of choice. Accordingly, proper precautions and physician assistance should be taken into consideration before using Aleve with other medications
Ace Inhibitors – angiotensin converting enzyme drugs constrict vessels and can cause adverse drug interactions, such as increasing blood pressure, and fluid retention
Beta Blockers – this class of drugs trigger antagonistic effects in the body and can react with naproxen to increase blood pressure, cause slurred speech, impair cognition, and cause headaches when taken together.
Corticosteroids – this class of steroidal hormones are prescribed to prevent inflammation and imbalance in the immune system, which can produce antagonistic drug interactions like fatigue, inflammation, ulceration, and tissue perforation.
- Dexamethasone (Decadron)
Diuretics – this is a class of drugs that elevate the rate of urination to decrease damage from urine retention, which can cause water retention, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting when taken alongside Aleve.
Other NSAIDS – a class of drugs that relieve pain by blocking painful sensations at the synapses, which can cause drug interactions, such as hypertension, increased urine retention, and high blood pressure that can be dangerous to compromised organ systems in the body.
- Dicloflenac sodium
Anti-depressants - The effectiveness of SSRI antidepressants may be reduced when taken with Aleve. See study.
- Celexa (Citalopram)
Anticoagulants (Blood Thinners) - Aleve also thins the blood, and this combination of drugs should be avoid in order to prevent bleeding.
- Warfarin (Coumadin)
Alcohol should also be avoided during treatment with Aleve since the risk of stomach bleeding is greatly increased. Also, patients should check with a pharmacist before using over-the-counter cold and flu remedies.