# Apo Naproxin (Alleve) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 5, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420 "2009-11-05T14:56:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/21 "2009-11-06T00:34:53Z")
> [@fubbleskag](#): > > unless something drastic has changed in the last three months, one cannot buy Tylenol with codeine OTC in Canada. According to [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codeine#Canada) > [@](#): > > **Canada** > > In Canada, codeine can be sold over the counter only in combination with two or more ingredients, which has resulted in the prevalence of AC&C (aspirin, codeine, and caffeine), and similar combinations using acetaminophen (paracetamol) rather than aspirin. Caffeine, being a stimulant, tends to offset the sedative effects of codeine. It also can increase the effectiveness and absorption rate of analgesics in some circumstances.[18] > > In Canada codeine preparations must be sold only at a pharmacy and be either behind the dispensing counter (or elsewhere, like in a back room) or on shelves in an area of the store which can be seen from said counter. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/22 "2009-11-06T00:56:42Z")
> [@fubbleskag](#): > > unless something drastic has changed in the last three months, one cannot buy Tylenol with codeine OTC in Canada. Yes, you can, but only quite literally over the counter…you have to ask the pharmacist for it. It is the 8mg codeine “Tylenol 1” or it’s generics. I bought some for my husband after he dislocated his wrist a few years ago. It was expensive! FYI the “Apo-” in a drug name simply refers to the generics manufacturer, in this case, Apotex. “Ratio-” refers to Ratiopharm, “PMS” to pharmascience, “SAN” to Sandoz, etc. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/23 "2009-11-06T01:04:33Z")
When I have _really_ severe pain (kidney stone or severe kidney infection; surgical recovery), Aleve (in prescription strength dosages) is the _only_ OTC drug that does anything at all for me! When I’m recovering from surgery (I have way more surgeries than most people. . .) I often find I can really spread out my intake of prescription narcotics by “leap-frogging” them with Aleve. F’rinstance, if my narcotic is for “every four hours”, I can take the narcotic, take Rx dose of Aleve three hours later, and last for another three hours before more narcotics. Thereby, waiting six hours between narcotic doses, instead of four. Before it was available OTC here, I used to get a 'script for it, for menstrual cramps. ---
**Author:** ![Fetchund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/24 "2009-11-06T01:04:33Z")
> [@MissMossie](#): > > I used to get horrendous period cramps, to the point I would be vomiting every fifteen minutes or so for hours from the pain. I found Naproxen and, so far as I can tell, my periods with it are like normal people’s periods without it, annoying, but not debilitating. I love it! Ditto here. Not only that, but you can sleep ALL NIGHT! I used to be woken up by the cramps, like clockwork, every 3.5 hours on double doses of Advil or Tylenol. I’ve been flabbergasted by why their ads press the “you don’t have to take pills every 4 hours all day” angle, but never seem to advertise the all night benefit! One thing I’ve noticed - there seems to be a bit of residual effect - Sometimes I’ll start with two tablets, but I usually only need one 10 hours later to control all kinds of pain. My doctor has warned me though, that like with all habitually used NSAIDS, you need to get your kidney and liver values checked regularly. ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/25 "2009-11-06T01:05:22Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > I have psoriasis and arthritis, so maybe I have the same condition as you. I’ll have to mention it to my doctor the next time I see him in six weeks. Same condition here. Boy, there’s an answer to everything on the Dope. I’m seeing my doctor later this month and I’ll mention this. I’ve been taking Sulindac, but it does sweet fuck-all, so I cut my dose down to 1 - 150mgs a day, just out of superstition. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/26 "2009-11-06T01:10:31Z")
Naproxen is just another Cox I NSAID. There’s no good evidence that it’s better or worse than any of the other Cox I NSAIDs (ibuprofen, indomethacin, sulindac, ketoprofen, piroxicam, salsalate, etc.) at reducing pain or fever or at causing GI bleeds or kidney dysfunction. There is some evidence that it may be safer for the heart than the others. Even so, I’ll still switch my patients around on various NSAIDs if they tell me one works and another doesn’t. If it works better for you, great. But your experience will not be universal, or even predictive, per the latest research. Having said that, naproxen is my pain reliever of choice. Mainly because of the heart thingy. And it’s nice that it is twice-a-day dosing. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/27 "2009-11-06T01:11:13Z")
> [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](#): > > According to [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codeine#Canada) > [@mnemosyne](#): > > Yes, you can, but only quite literally over the counter…you have to ask the pharmacist for it. It is the 8mg codeine “Tylenol 1” or it’s generics. I bought some for my husband after he dislocated his wrist a few years ago. It was expensive! > > FYI the “Apo-” in a drug name simply refers to the generics manufacturer, in this case, Apotex. “Ratio-” refers to Ratiopharm, “PMS” to pharmascience, “SAN” to Sandoz, etc. ignorance fought! ty ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/28 "2009-11-06T02:07:30Z")
**Okay, let me try this again** - you can NOW get Aleve OTC in Canada - [http://aleve.ca/en/index.html](http://aleve.ca/en/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/29 "2009-11-06T02:18:22Z")
> [@Poysyn](#): > > **Okay, let me try this again** - you can NOW get Aleve OTC in Canada - > > [http://aleve.ca/en/index.html](http://aleve.ca/en/index.html) But if you read the fine print, it is not available in my home province of British Columbia or Newfoundland. I wonder if the restriction on drugs may actually be a provincial jurisdiction as well. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/30 "2009-11-06T02:58:58Z")
Great stuff. Do _not_ take with aspirin. wiki “\*Naproxen is also not recommended for use with NSAIDs of the salicylate family (Aspirin) (drugs may reduce each other’s effects) …” \* psst- Das Glasperlenspiel- Tylenol PM is just acetaminophen/paracetamol with Diphenhydramine, aka Benadryl. If you buy the generic of each, you save a bundle. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/31 "2009-11-06T03:04:17Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > But if you read the fine print, it is not available in my home province of British Columbia or Newfoundland. I wonder if the restriction on drugs may actually be a provincial jurisdiction as well. It’s a start. I can’t see it taking too long to make it to BC and Newfoundland. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/32 "2009-11-06T03:06:24Z")
I’ve been on prescription strength Naproxen for 12 years. Started at 500mg once a day, was up to 500 three times a day at one point, but that finally started affecting my stomach, so the doctor backed it down to twice a day. The weather makes a big difference as to how many pills I actually need to take. Cold weather, I definitely need the 2 pills to keep the pain down, but in warmer weather I can get by with one or even none on a good day. As **DrDeth** points out, aspirin are a bad idea, so I am pretty much forced to use Tylenol for headaches. Not as effective for me as aspirin, but I will put up with the occasional headache in order to have complete use of my shoulders and knees. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/33 "2009-11-10T20:46:39Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Naproxen is just another Cox I NSAID. There’s no good evidence that it’s better or worse than any of the other Cox I NSAIDs (ibuprofen, indomethacin, sulindac, ketoprofen, piroxicam, salsalate, etc.) at reducing pain or fever or at causing GI bleeds or kidney dysfunction. There is some evidence that it may be safer for the heart than the others. > > Even so, I’ll still switch my patients around on various NSAIDs if they tell me one works and another doesn’t. If it works better for you, great. But your experience will not be universal, or even predictive, per the latest research. > > Having said that, naproxen is my pain reliever of choice. Mainly because of the heart thingy. And it’s nice that it is twice-a-day dosing. I just started indomethacin yesterday, when I was back in the emergency room with back pain. That stuff is Da Bomb. Almost, but not quite, as good as Vioxx, which I jones for every time my back goes out. Vioxx was nearly ideal - killed nearly all the pain, no stomach issues, non-narcotic. Too good to last. Between the indomethacin during the day and Percocet at night, I may get over this faster than my usual two weeks. Glad you are feeling better, **Dutchman**. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/34 "2009-11-10T23:20:30Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I just started indomethacin yesterday, when I was back in the emergency room with back pain. > > That stuff is Da Bomb. Almost, but not quite, as good as Vioxx, which I jones for every time my back goes out. Vioxx was nearly ideal - killed nearly all the pain, no stomach issues, non-narcotic. Too good to last. > > Between the indomethacin during the day and Percocet at night, I may get over this faster than my usual two weeks. > > Glad you are feeling better, **Dutchman**. > > Regards, > Shodan ah, my NSAID of choice for my pseudogout =) and any other inflammation based pain. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/35 "2009-11-11T00:35:31Z")
> [@Alma](#): > > I guess I’m in the minority, but naproxen does nothing at all for me, not for headaches or cramps or various injuries. Ibuprofen is where it’s at. For me, naproxen does nothing and ibuprofen has a good chance of making me throw up. Of course that was more likely back in the days when I had migraines. Used to be aspirin or excedrin for headache. Now I’m taking mobic for the knees, so I’m only supposed to take tylenol as an add-on. For headaches (no longer migraine) it mostly works. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/36 "2009-11-11T00:43:25Z")
> [@Alma](#): > > I guess I’m in the minority, but naproxen does nothing at all for me, not for headaches or cramps or various injuries. Ibuprofen is where it’s at. I find it useful only for muscle aches, the kind you get from hauling wood all day, playing DDR for an hour, or shoveling snow forever. It does nothing for my headaches or much for cramps, either. Ibuprofen works better on both, and on tooth pain too. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/37 "2009-11-11T00:47:27Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > For me, naproxen does nothing and ibuprofen has a good chance of making me throw up. Of course that was more likely back in the days when I had migraines. > > Used to be aspirin or excedrin for headache. Now I’m taking mobic for the knees, so I’m only supposed to take tylenol as an add-on. For headaches (no longer migraine) it mostly works. Well, everyone’s body chemistry is different. I know that post-op, I’ve been given IV Fentanyl, twice, which is supposed to be _ten times stronger than morphine_ (according to the recovery room nurses), but for my money, they might as well have been putting saline in my IV. Did _nothing_ for me. Naproxen works _very_ well for me; ibuprofen works moderately well, Tylenol I could take a whole handful of, and they would cause me to bleed out from my liver before they did anything for the pain. YMM, of course, V. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/38 "2009-11-11T01:20:49Z")
I found naproxen doesn’t work any better for me than Ibuprofen. Actually Orudis works the quickest for me. It used to be sold over the counter but they stopped making it in large numbers when it just didn’t sell. Orudis may help you if you can get it over the counter in Canada. It’s expensive if you buy it OTC online, so I just go with Aspirin or Ibuprofen, which work well enough for me ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/39 "2009-11-11T01:48:05Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I found naproxen doesn’t work any better for me than Ibuprofen. Actually Orudis works the quickest for me. It used to be sold over the counter but they stopped making it in large numbers when it just didn’t sell. I remember Orudis! Worked a charm for me! I was very disappointed when they stopped selling it. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apo-naproxin-alleve/516420/40 "2009-11-11T05:18:14Z")
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