Taking too much Aleve®, or naproxen, can lead to an overdose. Signs of an Aleve® overdose are confusion, dizziness, and slow or shallow breathing. Other signs include nausea, stomach pain and vomiting. An overdose is a serious matter and can lead to death if untreated. A person who exhibits symptoms of an Aleve® overdose should seek immediate medical attention.
Much like other drugs, Aleve® comes with a long list of side effects. Some of these side effects overlap with signs of an Aleve® overdose, such as dizziness and nausea. Serious side effects a person might experience with Aleve® are allergic reaction, chest pain and fever. Less serious, but more common, side effects include constipation, drowsiness and headache. A sufferer of serious side effects, or common side effects that persist or get worse over time, should see a doctor.
To avoid an Aleve® overdose, a person should take care to follow the directions given to him or her by a doctor. If the drug is acquired and used in nonprescription form, a person should comply with the directions on the package label. He or she should not take an excess amount of Aleve® or take the medication for a longer period of time than recommended. For further safety, a person should also be aware of the warnings and precautions of taking such a drug.
Aleve® is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). NSAIDs are a type of medication used to treat pain and inflammation due to a variety of medical conditions. These medical conditions include headache, menstrual pain and different forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. As an NSAID, Aleve® helps treat these and other medical conditions, but it can also cause others, too.
Medical conditions such as ulcers and stomach or intestinal bleeding can occur as a result of taking Aleve®. If alcohol or tobacco is used in combination with the drug, the risk of stomach bleeding can be increased. Aleve® can also increase a person’s chances of suffering a heart attack or stroke.
Before taking Aleve®, a person should let a doctor know of any other medications that he or she also takes. This is because Aleve® can interfere with other types of drugs. Examples of these drugs include antidepressants, blood-thinners and diuretics. Existing medical conditions can also interfere with Aleve® as well. Medical conditions a person should disclose include heart problems, liver or kidney disease and nasal polyps.