On Monday, December 20, 2004, the National Institutes of Health announced that their three-year study showed that Aleve, the popular over-the-counter pain reliever made by Bayer, is linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The agency ended the study based on those results, and also stopped giving Aleve to study participants.

The NIH had been investigating whether Aleve or the pain reliever Celebrex could prevent Alzheimer's disease. Instead, it found a 50 percent increased risk of heart attacks and strokes in those on Aleve than those on a placebo. Aleve has been on the market since 1994. Naprosyn, the prescription version of Aleve, has been on the market since 1976.

This report follows closely on the heels of several others linking anti-inflammatory drugs to increased heart risks in patients and study participants. An FDA warning advises patients not to take naproxen (the generic form of Aleve) for more than 10 days unless directed by a doctor, and only in the amounts specified on its label: No more than two pills a day. The FDA warning pertains to all drugs that contain naproxen as the active ingredient. Other brand names of naproxen include Anaprox, Naprelan, and Naprosyn.

Because over-the-counter, or OTC drugs do not require a prescription, many mistakenly believe that these medications are completely safe. On the contrary: Researchers have already discovered that people who take acetaminophen (like Tylenol) on a regular basis nearly doubled their risk of kidney cancer.

Aleve (naproxen is its generic name) is an NSAID – a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Other NSAIDs that have been on the market a long time include aspirin and ibuprofen. In January 2004, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) sent a letter to the State Boards of Pharmacy regarding important safety issues for all products that contain NSAIDs.

The newest generation of NSAIDS is called COX-2 inhibitors, and includes the newly controversial drugs Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra. All of the COX-2 inhibitors are suspected of greatly increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

It is unclear how Aleve caused the increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, but NSAIDs are suspected of increasing the likelihood of developing blood clots, which can block blood vessels to the heart. Researchers are still trying to understand the link between NSAIDs like Aleve and increased heart risk.

If you or anyone you know is taking Aleve, talk to your doctor. If you or someone you love has been injured because of their use of Aleve, we urge you to contact a qualified attorney who has expertise in personal injury and product liability claims. Call Brown & Crouppen. At Brown & Crouppen our experienced team of lawyers provides tough, aggressive representation for victims and their families. When you choose us to handle your lawsuit, our entire team becomes fully committed to your cause. We’ll find answers, hold negligent companies responsible and get you the compensation you deserve.

Brown & Crouppen can help you make informed decisions about your legal rights, so please call Brown & Crouppen at Toll-Free: 866-991-4700 for your free legal consultation or save time with our online Contact Form.

Call Brown & Crouppen at Toll-Free: 866-991-4700 for your free
legal consultation or save time with our online Contact Form.

Toll-Free: 866-991-4700