Aleve News Alerts and Lawyer Updates

Aleve, the popular over-the-counter pain reliever made by Bayer, is now linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, and the National Institutes of Health has ceased giving the drug to study participants, the agency announced Monday, December 20, 2004.

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.

John Breitner of the University of Washington, the lead scientist on the NIH study, said researchers will continue to follow the Aleve participants, some of whom had been taking the drug for nearly three years.

Aleve is the first non-prescription product to join a growing list of pain relievers linked to heart attacks and strokes. An FDA warning advises patients not to take naproxen 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.

FDA Issues Aleve Safety Warning
NBC5.com - 12/21/2004

Aleve Is Facing Safety Questions
USA Today - 12/21/2004

Painkiller Aleve Faces Questions on Safety
Seattle Times - 12/21/2004

Another Pain Medicine, Naproxen / Aleve, Could Cause Drug Problems
WNDU-TV - 12/21/2004