Ibuprofen VS Naproxen

We have been looking into using Naproxen (found in Midol and Aleve) or Ibuprofen (Tylenol) and their effectiveness as anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing drugs.

	Pros	Cons
Naproxen	Lasts longer than Ibuprofen, so you can take it less often. Naproxen works as well as Aspirin and Indomethacin to treat arthritis pain, and causes fewer stomach problems. Works well to relieve pain, swelling, and fevers.	It needs to be taken with food to avoid getting an upset stomach. Can cause serious kidney and stomach problems (like ulcers and bleeding) the longer you take it. Can raise your risk of having blood clots, heart attack, or stroke.
Ibuprofen	Works well to relieve pain and fevers Causes less upset stomach, ulcers, bruising, and bleeding than Naproxen Doesn't cause kidney damage and is safe to use if you have heart problems or if you're pregnant.	Tylenol doesn't treat pain as well as other medications like ibuprofen and naproxen. Drinking alcohol while taking Tylenol can damage your liver. To avoid hurting your liver, you need to keep track of the total amount of acetaminophen (APAP)

Main takeaways from Naproxen vs Ibuprofen research:

Tylenol reduces fever and relieves pain well, but it doesn't lower inflammation and swelling.

Naproxen works well for mild to moderate pain and inflammation, and it lasts longer than other Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).