Sam asked
Can you take Advil and Aleva together? I have a lot of pain and wanted to know if this combination will help.
Answer
Both Advil and Aleve are classified as NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) and should not be taken together.
Taking Advil With Aleve
Advil contains the active ingredient ibuprofen while Aleve contains the active ingredient naproxen sodium, which, as stated above, belong to the same drug class.
Both Advil and Aleve have similar uses as pain relievers, fever reducers, and anti-inflammatories (reduce inflammation).
Advil most commonly comes in 200 mg tablets and is indicated for over the counter use up to 1200 mg, or 6 tablets, per day. The directions for Advil recommend taking the medication every 4 to 6 hours, which is generally the duration of action of the medication.
Aleve most commonly comes in 220 mg tablets and is indicated for over the counter use up to 660 mg, or 3 tablets, per day. Aleve is taken every 8 to 12 hours because it exhibits its effects in your body for a longer period of time than ibuprofen.
Taking both Advil and Aleve together will have little to no increase in efficacy – meaning they won’t offer any further pain relief or fever reduction if you take them together versus taking either drug alone.
In addition, taking Advil and Aleve together can also increase the risk of bleeding, especially in your stomach. A bleed in your stomach, also called an “ulcer,” may occur without warning and is caused by the drugs altering how your body guards itself against stomach acid.
If you need longer lasting or more pain relief, talk to your doctor about alternative agents available with a prescription or consider using ibuprofen and acetaminophen (Tylenol), alternating between the two every three hours.
Summary
- Advil and Aleve should not be taken together as they are in the same class of drugs.
- There is no benefit in efficacy using Advil and Aleve together and it leads to increased risk of potentially dangerous side effects.
