Last updated: January 18, 2017
Are you in pain at Night? If so, don't miss this Aleve PM review.
Minor aches and pains before going to bed can make it tough to fall asleep. Are you looking for a safe, over-the-counter pain reliever that also can aid you in sleeping? While not designed to be used solely as a sleep aid, Aleve PM is the only over-the-counter pain medication that lasts for 12 hours.
Produced and invented by the pharmaceutical company, Bayer who is also the inventor of aspirin, you can find Aleve PM on the shelves of your local grocery store, drug store, or even gas station.
You shouldn't use Aleve PM as a regular sleep aid, but this guide will give you the specific instances when it makes sense -- and doesn't make sense -- to use this first-of-its-kind medication.
If you are interested in learning more, read on to view our complete Aleve PM review so you can make the best decision for you.
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Our Rating
Relieves minor aches and pains enough to help you sleep.
Price
Low cost for the pain relief provided.
Usefulness
Resolves most minor aches and pains that might stop you from falling asleep quickly.
We Like
- Two capsules, 12 hours of pain relief/sleep aid
- First over-the-counter drug of its kind
- FDA approved
- Drugs used to make medication have been used and tested for a collective 90 years
- Easy-open bottle
We Don't Like
- Not to be used as a regular sleep aid
- Can cause allergic reactions in people who also are allergic to aspirin, including wheezing, asthmatic attack, stomach bleeding and shock, among others.
- Side effect chances increase for people 60 years and older
- Increased risk of hearing loss if used over a long period of time
Summary: If you're experiencing minor pains and aches that are keeping you up at night, Aleve PM may be your over-the-counter medication of choice. This medication, produced by the pharmaceutical giant Bayer, is the first over-the-counter pain reliever plus sleep aid that lasts for a full 12 hours. Keep in mind that risks for side effects -- including stomach bleeding -- increase if you are 60 years of age or older. This drug should not be used in place of a regular sleep aid but could be effective for people older than 12 who are kept awake occasionally by light pain.
Frequent Asked Questions
When should I use this medication?
Take note that this medication should not be used in place of a regular sleep aid prescribed by your physician. Rather, it should be used by people who have minor aches and pains and who may be kept up at night because of these pains.
What drugs comprise this medication?
Aleve PM is made from 25 milligrams of the sleep aid diphenhydramine HCI and 220 milligrams of the pain reliever naproxen sodium, which is an anti-inflammatory drug that also happens to be non-steroidal.
Explain how this medication goes to work?
The naproxen sodium contained in the capsules blocks prostaglandins, which have a primary role in your body feeling pain. When you take up to two capsules in the span of 24 hours, you are more likely to feel less pain and to sleep better.
My child is 11 years old. Can I give him/her this medication?
No, do not administer Aleve to children who are under 12 years old.
Can I take three tablets instead of two at a time?
No, take only two capulets in the span of 24 hours. After 24 hours have passed, you can take an additional two capulets. Take the medication as directed on the bottle.
Is this mediation considered an anti-inflammatory drug?
Not officially. It's main pain-fighting element, naproxen sodium, is a part of a drug class called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) but Aleve is not considered an anti-inflammatory medication.
I have allergies. Should I use Aleve?
You should use Aleve for minor aches and pains but not for allergies. Aleve does contain diphenhydramine HCI, which can be used as both a sleep aid and an antihistamine. However, in Aleve PM, diphenhydramine HCI is working solely as a sleep aid.
I've had an alcoholic drink today. Should I take this medication?
No. Your chances of developing stomach bleeding increase if you've had three or more alcoholic drinks in a day and then take Aleve PM.
I'm 60 years old or older. Should I take Aleve?
Consult with your doctor. If you are 60 years or older, you have a higher than normal chance of developing stomach bleeding.
I'm allergic to aspirin. Should I take Aleve?
No, you shouldn't. Consult your doctor first. People who are allergic to aspirin are often found to be allergic to Aleve because of the ingredient Naproxen sodium. Side effects include shock, wheezing, blisters, loss of breath, hives, and swelling.
I'm about to have heart surgery - or I'm recovering from one. Is Aleve safe for me to take?
No, please consult with your doctor, and do not take Aleve PM as your pain reliever following or before heart surgery.
What if I'm looking for a more natural way to sleep?
We also have reviews for more natural sleep solutions, such as the best teas for sleep and some aromatherapy solutions such as essential oils.
Aleve PM Review Final Thoughts
In conclusion, armed with this information from our Aleve PM review, you are now in a position to make a decision about this product.
Remember that Aleve PM is not for everyone. You will need to read the instructions carefully and avoid taking the medication if you do not meet the criteria. For example, never give Aleve PM to a child 12 years old or younger. Also, know the risks and side effects if you are 60 years old or older or if you are allergic to aspirin. You don't want to suffer from the side effects, which can be severe if the drug is not taken properly. It should only be used by consumers who qualify as safe patients for the drug.
Return to this Aleve PM review when you have questions about the pros and cons of taking Aleve PM. If you ever have a concern, please consult your doctor before taking it.
Bayer
Aleve PM is made by the German pharmaceutical company Bayer. Headquartered in Leverkusen, the company got its start in 1863 in Barmen and rose during the Cold War as a leading pharmaceutical company. Today, Bayer is known for hundreds of leading consumer, over-the-counter drugs and is perhaps most famous for its invention and marketing of aspirin. There has been a dispute at Bayer over which scientist invented aspirin -- either Arthur Eichengrün or Felix Hoffmann. Its drugs have been the subject of the most notable prize in the medical world, the 1939 Nobel Prize in Medicine. Hundreds of years later, the company still continues to be a drug powerhouse, acquiring and merging with other leading companies including MSD which made Dr. Scholl's, Claritin, and Coppertone products.
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