Do you know the differences between Aleve Vs ibuprofen? If you are familiar with pain medications, then you probably know about these two medicines. However, do you truly know the differences between the two? Which one is more effective than the other? What are the side effects of these medications? Well, you do not have to worry about those things anymore. We are here to tell you everything there is to know about Aleve and ibuprofen, including the main differences that they have. So, here are the key differences between Aleve vs Ibuprofen.
Differences between Aleve Vs Ibuprofen
1# Length of Time
The first difference that you should know about these two medications is their length of time. Ibuprofen is a short-acting pain medication. This means that you will be able to feel the effect of ibuprofen without having to wait for a long time. This is because this medicine has a quick onset of action. On the other hand, Aleve is a long-acting drug. It has a slower onset of action than ibuprofen. However, Aleve has a longer duration of action compared to ibuprofen. This means that the effect of this medicine can be felt longer than ibuprofen.
2# Gastrointestinal Side Effects
One of the most common side effects of both Aleve and ibuprofen is the gastrointestinal side effect. These two medications can cause side effects such as stomach bleeding and stomach ulcers. This is especially when someone takes these meds for a long period. Well, because Aleve is a long-acting medicine, it has a higher risk of gastrointestinal side effects compared to ibuprofen. That is why people with a higher risk of stomach bleeding should be cautious when consuming this medicine. To reduce the risk of gastrointestinal side effects, people should take the lowest dose that is still effective to treat their pain. And that is the second main difference between Aleve Vs ibuprofen.
3# Effectiveness
Next, let’s talk about the effectiveness of these two meds. Both Aleve and ibuprofen are Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). These medications block COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, which will relieve pain and reduce inflammation. The effectiveness of each medication depends on each of their dosages. An Aleve dosage of 440mg is equivalent to a 400mg dosage of ibuprofen. So, when it comes to effectiveness, ibuprofen can create the same effect as Aleve at a lower dosage.
4# Treatment Suitability
The last difference between Aleve and ibuprofen is their suitability. Because ibuprofen is a short-acting medication, it is generally more suitable for acute pain and conditions. On the other hand, Aleve is more suitable for chronic pain because it is a long-acting medication. So, if you are trying to choose between Aleve Vs Advil for arthritis, then you need to determine whether the condition is acute or chronic. For acute pain, you might want to go with Advil, which contains ibuprofen. However, if the pain is chronic, you might want to choose Aleve.
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NSAIDs Side Effects
Before you even think about choosing the right medicine for your pain, you need to know the side effects that these medicines might have. There are several side effects of NSAIDs such as Aleve and ibuprofen that you should know about. Since these medications also block several important functions in the body, they will be able to cause side effects such as:
- Stomach aches
- Stomach ulcers
- Stomach bleeding
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Allergic reaction
- Heart attack
- Kidney toxicity
Because of these possible side effects, people should be very careful when they are consuming NSAIDs. If you are consuming these medications, a doctor should monitor your condition if you are at risk for these side effects. That way, your doctor will be able to determine the correct dose for the medicine to have its effect while avoiding the unwanted side effects. And that is everything you need to know about the differences between Aleve Vs ibuprofen.
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