Naproxen: What It Is, How It Works, and What You Need to Know

When you reach for a pain reliever that lasts longer than ibuprofen, you’re probably holding naproxen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to reduce pain, swelling, and fever. Also known as Aleve, it’s one of the most widely used NSAIDs for everything from headaches to arthritis flare-ups.

Naproxen works by blocking enzymes that cause inflammation and pain — specifically COX-1 and COX-2. Unlike acetaminophen, which just dulls pain signals, naproxen actually tackles the swelling behind the ache. That’s why it’s often recommended for conditions like tendonitis, menstrual cramps, or gout. But it’s not harmless. Long-term use can irritate your stomach lining, raise blood pressure, or increase kidney stress. That’s why it’s not a daily fix unless your doctor says so. And if you’re already taking blood thinners, SSRIs, or other NSAIDs, mixing them with naproxen can be dangerous. You don’t need to be a pharmacist to know this — just pay attention to the labels on every pill you take.

Many people don’t realize naproxen shows up in dozens of OTC products. Some cold medicines, migraine combos, and even sleep aids include it under different names. That’s how people end up with accidental overdoses — taking naproxen for their knee pain, then grabbing a nighttime cold tablet that has more of it. This is why medication safety isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the difference between feeling better and ending up in the ER. The same goes for combining naproxen with alcohol. It doesn’t just upset your stomach — it raises your risk of bleeding, especially if you’re older or have a history of ulcers.

There’s also the question of when naproxen stops being helpful and starts being a problem. For chronic pain, it’s rarely the whole answer. Studies show that long-term NSAID use doesn’t improve function — it just masks symptoms. That’s why so many posts here focus on alternatives: physical therapy, CBT, or even switching to safer long-term options like topical creams or low-dose antidepressants for nerve pain. Naproxen might get you through a bad week, but it won’t fix the root cause.

If you’ve been taking naproxen regularly for months, ask yourself: Are you using it because you need to, or because you’ve forgotten how to live without it? The posts below cover everything from how to safely stop using it, to what happens when you mix it with other drugs, to how to spot hidden dangers in your medicine cabinet. You’ll find real stories about people who thought they were being careful — until they weren’t. And you’ll see how others managed their pain without relying on pills that wear down their body over time.