PlainPill
MedicationPain & inflammation

Aleve

People mainly take Aleve for pain & inflammation. Based on 4 first-hand reports and 1 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #1942 of 4,149 overall.

Compare with…Alternatives for pain & inflammation
14
User score
Mostly negative
25% positive0% mixed25% negative50% unclear

Of reports that state an outcome, 50% are positive.

Clinical research
BModerate research base
1
meta-analyses
2
RCTs
22
papers

What Aleve does, according to users

Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.

Pain & inflammation50% of 2
betterno changeworse

What the research says

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.

BModerate research base

At least one meta-analysis, or 5+ randomized controlled trials. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.

J Clin Pharmacol · 2001 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
A look at the safety profile of over-the-counter naproxen sodium: a meta-analysis

Conclusion: This meta-analysis confirmed the favorable safety profile of naproxen sodium at OTC doses and established that the overall occurrence of adverse events with naproxen sodium was comparable and in some cases significantly lower than placebo. These results indicate that treatment with naproxen sodium may be highly beneficial from a clinical and economical perspective and safe when adhering to labeled directions.

PubMed 11210392 ↗

Dosage people report

As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.

No doses stated in the reports so far.

Reported side effects

How often each side effect came up across all reports.

No side effects reported so far.

What users say

First-hand experiences, quoted verbatim. We show one positive and one negative where both exist.

“I've had arthritis in my hands for a year and a half, and have taken Aleve, turmeric, boswellia and ginger to dampen the pain. The pain relief would last for hours and then come back.”
HelpedRead the discussion ↗
“I have never had much luck with aleve or Tylenol helping.”
Didn't helpRead the discussion ↗
Top discussions (4)

Other options for pain & inflammation

BPC-157
Peptide · 1,607 reports
50
86% report better pain & inflammation
MixedDResearch: None
TB-500
Peptide · 870 reports
50
86% report better pain & inflammation
Mostly positiveCResearch: Limited
Omega-3
Supplement · 2,994 reports
46
93% report better pain & inflammation
Mostly positiveAResearch: Strong
Curcumin
Supplement · 541 reports
48
91% report better pain & inflammation
Mostly positiveAResearch: Strong
Turmeric
Supplement · 330 reports
39
86% report better pain & inflammation
MixedAResearch: Strong
Magnesium
Supplement · 2,377 reports
50
93% report better pain & inflammation
Mostly positiveAResearch: Strong

User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 3, 2026. How we rate