ALEVE FDA MedWatch Direct Reports Summary

These tables and charts are created from 1,748 voluntary U.S. reports for ALEVE (NAPROXEN SODIUM) reported by individuals to the FDA via the MedWatch Reporting System from 2004 through April 28, 2026.

For a summary of adverse events including mandatory reports submitted by pharmaceutical companies (all countries and all reporter types) to the FAERS database, View FDA FAERS ALEVE Report.

Top Adverse Effects Associated with ALEVE (from U.S. FDA Medwatch Reports)

 Side Effect# of FDA Reports
1FATIGUE135
2NAUSEA133
3HEADACHE129
4DIZZINESS121
5PAIN121
6JOINT PAIN107
7DRUG INEFFECTIVE87
8SHORTNESS OF BREATH86
9VOMITING83
10DIARRHEA82
11INSOMNIA81
12PAIN IN EXTREMITY78
13PRODUCT SUBSTITUTION ISSUE77
14LACK OF STRENGTH AND ENERGY (ASTHENIA)75
15ANXIETY70
16ITCHING70
17RASH57
18MUSCLE PAIN55
19FEELING ABNORMAL54
20GAIT DISTURBANCE54
21MUSCLE SPASMS54
22BACK PAIN51
23DEPRESSION50
24EXCESS SWEATING46
25DISEASE PROGRESSION43
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ALEVE Total Medwatch Safety Reports by Patient Sex

 Male    Female    Unknown    Total  
 510    1206    32    1,748  

Medwatch Reporter TypeCount
Consumer855
Physician50
Pharmacist221
Other Health Professional170

Top Indications      
Pain
Product used for unknown indication
Headache
Rheumatoid arthritis
Back pain

Type of Outcome Reported
Serious: 1206
Not Serious: 542
Note: A serious outcome means the adverse event resulted in death, a life threatening condition, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or other serious condition.

Suspected Role
Primary Suspect: 1747
Concomitant Drugs: 1648
Note: A single MedWatch report can list more than one drug. This summary includes ALEVE identified as the suspect drug or as a concomitantly taken drug.

FDA Safety-Related Labeling Changes

ALEVE (NAPROXEN SODIUM) Over-the-counter Drug:
FDA Safety Communication

FDA recommends avoiding use of NSAIDs in pregnancy at 20 weeks or later because they can result in low amniotic fluid; NSAIDs may cause rare kidney problems in unborn babies

ALEVE (NAPROXEN SODIUM) Over-the-counter Drug:
FDA Safety-related Labeling Changes


Have experience (good or bad) with ALEVE? Rate ALEVE at Ask a Patient.

For serious adverse events, report them to the FDA by contacting the drug manufacturer or report directly through the MedWatch voluntary reporting form.

NOTES

This report, created by AskaPatient.com, is derived from U.S. drug-related adverse event cases that were reported directly to the FDA using the voluntary MedWatch online or paper reporting system. MedWatch is the voluntary FDA system for consumers, physicians, and others to directly report adverse reactions. The Medwatch initiative was launched in 1993 as a voluntary reporting program for consumers, physicians and other healthcare practitioners.

After processing the received forms, the FDA adds the MedWatch reports to the FDA Adverse Events Reporting System(or FAERS database.) Click here for the complete FAERS report summary, which includes mandatory reports submitted by pharmaceutical companies (worldwide) combined with the MedWatch reports. MedWatch Reports only represent about 5% of the FAERS database. For more, read "Does the FDA's Rapidly Growing Database of Adverse Events Improve Drug Safety?"


The data in this report was obtained from Open FDA. Data was last updated to include reports through January 27, 2026. The reactions, side effects, or "adverse events," represent up to the 20 most frequently occuring events in the database for a drug related to the event. 

Open FDA states that it only includes the most recent version of a case report. It also adds the disclaimer: "Do not rely on Open FDA to make decisions regarding medical care. While we make every effort to ensure that data is accurate, you should assume all results are unvalidated."

FDA uses the "MedDRA" classification system to describe reported adverse reactions. MedDRA is a standardized medical terminology that facilitates sharing of regulatory information internationally. In some cases, "patient friendly" terms for the layman designated by MedDRA have been substituted for medical jargon. Please contact us with questions about this report.