Combining Advil And Aleve: Side Effects And Takeaways - Healthline

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Effects of Combining Advil and AleveMedically reviewed by Aleah Rodriguez, PharmD — Written by University of Illinois — Updated on July 26, 2017

Combining Advil and Aleve
NSAID side effects
Takeaway

Taking ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) together won’t provide additional pain relief and can increase your risk of certain side effects.

Introduction

When you experience moderate aches and pains, chances are that you reach into your medicine cabinet for relief. If you’re like most people, you probably have at least one or two over-the-counter pain relief medications in there. You may wonder if combining them can help or hurt. In this article, we’ll tell you about the over-the-counter pain medications Advil and Aleve. We’ll tell you how each works to relieve pain as well as what can happen if you take them together. This information can help you make choices to relieve your pain in the healthiest way possible.

What can happen if I combine Advil and Aleve?

Advil, also known as ibuprofen, and Aleve, also known as naproxen, are both nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Both of these drugs work in the same way and do the same thing to relieve pain. Advil and Aleve both help prevent your body from making prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are made in most cells in your body. Your cells release them at many times, including when you’re injured. They’re responsible for inflammation. Advil and Aleve reduce the amount of prostaglandins that your cells have to release. Your pain from inflammation starts to go away once there are fewer prostaglandins.

Taking more than one NSAID like Advil and Aleve at the same time does not relieve pain any faster. You can also increase your risk of certain side effects from taking too much of an NSAID or from taking them for too long.

What are the side effects of NSAIDs?

Both Advil and Aleve can cause similar side effects. Taking them together increases your risk of these side effects in different parts of your body.

Kidney and blood pressure problems

Prostaglandins help keep the pressure in your kidneys to filter the fluids in your body and maintain your blood pressure. Changing the amount of prostaglandins too much or for too long may increase your blood pressure or damage your kidneys. This can cause fluid retention and changes in the amount and frequency you urinate. People with kidney disease or who take blood pressure medications are at increased risk.

Digestive system problems

Prostaglandins help protect your stomach from damage. Reducing them too much or for too long can put you at risk for ulcers, heartburn, and nausea. You may notice bloody or black, tarry stools. People with digestive system problems such as peptic ulcer disease and ulcerative colitis are at increased risk.

Bleeding problems

NSAIDs can reduce your blood’s ability to clot. If you have bleeding problems, you may notice frequent bruises or nose bleeds or bleeding from wounds that is difficult to stop. People at increased risk include people who:

take blood-thinning drugs
have low platelet counts
have bleeding disorders such as hemophilia

Takeaway

Combining more than one NSAID, such as Advil and Aleve, will not help relieve your pain faster than taking just one NSAID. Instead, it could increase your risk of side effects. If your pain is not getting any better by taking just one of the medicines, contact your doctor. You may need a different medication or your pain could be a symptom of a larger problem.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Grosser, T., Smyth, E., & FitzGerald,G. A. (2011). Anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic agents;Pharmacotherapy of gout. In: L. L. Brunton, B. A. Chabner, & B.C. Knollmann (eds.) Goodman& Gilman's: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, NY:McGraw-Hill; 2011.
Ibuprofen – ibuprofen tablet,film coated. (2007, March)https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=953cee06-5c26-4f30-870a-46b9fbb66e79
Ibuprofen. (2015, September 15).Retrieved fromhttps://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682159.html
Kang, H. A., Lee, S. M., Park, C.,Kim, D. S. (2016). Prevalence and predictors of non-steroidal anti-inflammatorydrug/analgesic therapeutic duplication in the South Korean ambulatory caresetting. European Journal of ClinicalPharmacology, 72(1), 109-116http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00228-015-1958-0
Langman, M. J., Weil, J.,Wainwright, P., Lawson, D. H., Rawlins, M. D., Logan, F. R. A., … Collin-Jones,D. G. (1994). Risks of bleeding peptic ulcer associated with individualnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. TheLancet, 343(8905), 1075-1078http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(94)90185-6/abstract
Naprosyn – naproxen tablet.(2016, March)https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=68848217-03c9-4377-9be6-6f567e629129
Risser, A., Donovan, D.,Heintzman, J., & Page, T. (2009, December). NSAID prescribing precautions. American Family Physician, 80(12), 1371-1378.Retrieved fromhttp://www.aafp.org/afp/2009/1215/p1371.html

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Medically reviewed by Aleah Rodriguez, PharmD — Written by University of Illinois — Updated on July 26, 2017

Combining Advil And Aleve: Side Effects And Takeaways - Healthline

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What can happen if I combine Advil and Aleve?

What are the side effects of NSAIDs?

Kidney and blood pressure problems

Digestive system problems

Bleeding problems

Takeaway

How we reviewed this article:

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