I didn't know Aleve was available here. Is it the same as Naproxin? I know that Advil or Tylenol will not even touch some pain for me. I found though that taking one Tylenol and one Advil seems to work well.

Good luck.

The Pharmacies deeply resented the  changeover to over the counter status for Naproxen. They can't charge their dispensing fees then. So many druggists try to discourage it's use.

It's very effective, but hard on your stomach.

There is a number of OTC meds. that safeway lock up when the pharmist is off duty. It's frustrating but in my case there is a 24 hour shoppers  nearby.

 The coupon certainly sweetens the deal I must say.  I wish you success at getting your mitts on it.  And a box of crackers or some yogurt to help pad your tummy.  

I get hassled for getting Insuln without a prescription - again because of the fees, but they would never admit it.

Aleve/Naproxen/Naprosyn is not locked up so they can get dispensing fees or to discourage use. It is locked up because it is either the law or policy. It is also law or policy that only a pharmacist can open it, not the stock person or someone from another department. The reasons can be that the drug is used in meth production (law) or it can be that a drug, like Aleve and Prilosec, comes with serious known side effects. Like that they eat the stomach out of folks, long term use damages organs, or one use can interact with other commonly used medications to result in things like death.

Some OTC meds are not like vitamins or aspirins.

Aleve cannot be crushed, broken... which can be an issue for elderly or those unable to take pills. This is not a pain reliever like tylenol or an aspirin that you can take an extra one when you need to. If you took it with a prescription for any length of time a doctor would want to run some tests for harmful side effects. It thins blood dramatically, which is an issue for someone on a blood thinner. It is known to cause edema which is an issue for those high blood pressure or heart conditions. It also raises blood potasium levels which is again a problem for seniors, diabetics, people on ACE inhibitors,  people with kidney problems, people on diuretics, people on beta blockers... It has real gastrointestinal effects, so a history of ulcers, colitis, IBS, Chrohn's... Then there is the liver and pregnancy.... You should not use it pregnant and especially in the 3rd trimester. Then there is long term use and kidneys... again seniors and folks already on diuretics...

Have you ever been on naproxen sodium? I took it for a bad shoulder, short term in the grand scheme of things. I had to get bloodwork while I was on it. My grandmother took it, long term for arthritis, and was hospitalized with GI bleeding.

When my shoulder bothered me again, I was told it was not considered such a wonder drug. More had become known about the drug and doctors were less impressed. Alos, now they knew more and with my history of bloodclots and history of an ulcer, it meant no doctor worth a darn would prescribe it. Now, I would not take it OTC because not only did the doctors did not think it was "the best thing since sliced bread" and time has added an esophogeal history, but I know it is a no-no for liver disease. Because of those I love, I know it is a no-no for asthmatics and people with high blood pressure and IBS and Chrohn's..... That does not mean all people would know for themselves or their loved ones.

Yes, all meds come with warnings.

Do you know the drug's makeup? Yes, it is an NSAID, like Vioxx and Celebrex and Bextra, that come with specific proven history along with naproxen sodium/Aleve's serious gastrointestinal and cardiovascular risk. We, tend to think an NSAID is an NSAID is an NSAID, but not all NSAID's are alike. There is a marked difference between ibuprofins like advil and motrin... and fenoprofen calcium and naproxen sodium and ketoprofen calcium and then there are the different acid makeups and the cox-2 inhibitors, etc....  Each coming with their own indications and complications.

Cox-2 inhibitors either were withdrawn from the market/ stopped pursuing licensing by their company, have an FDA alert on them or got yanked from the market. .Vioxx was recalled by Merck. Pfizer saw their stock fall by billions after they had to ackowledge higher heart attack and stroke risk.

Aleve is a trademark name from Bayer for the OTC version. It is known by Naprosyn, Anaprox, Synflex, Naprogesic, and Naprelan... it is naproxen sodium. Now, seeing sodium might mean more than all those names.

A brand name is just a word and it won''t likely  mean any more to people than Tylenol or Motrin... Informed by doctor, pharmacist, insert... the chemical make up and consequence.... someone who has hypertension will know that it is a no-no. Someone on lithium will know that salt balance is important in their disease.

Pregant women will know that it is proven in the 3rd trimester to increase congenital anomalies (birth defects) in the baby, mainly cardiac septal defects. 

Do you know that according to the National Institute on Aging, patients on naproxen have a 50% higher rate of heart attack or stroke?

Do you know the US's experience with it being OTC? How about tons of lawsuits. 

Do we know what happens to some people who tan or go in sunlight on Aleve?

Also, the enteric coating on a medication is not always simply there for time release effects or ease of swallowing. Time release stuff crushed or chewed can result in accidental overdose. A coating can be there for stomach protective benefits and the drug have known and proven GI risk. Do not ever crush or chew a medication without asking your pharmacist.

 Our pastor, who has been through enough health issues to know his drugs , said that you can now get Tylenol 2 over the counter. Not sure what the formulation is, I'm just passing on the info.

http://www.medbroadcast.com/drug_info_details.asp?brand_name_id=1511