Can taking aleve daily over a long period of time (years) cause sharp and gnawing pain under my left rib cage? had blood tests recently, doctor said some level was higher due to my taking aleve (which he prescribed for my arthritis). should i stop taking

It's : It's possible your dr. Is referring to a blood test to check kidney function; it may elevated if your kidneys are being affected by the aleve. Aleve ( = generic: naproxen) and advil (= generic: ibuprofen) are both "anti-inflammatory" medications; known as "n.S.A.I.D.'s" (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). All nsaid's could potentially cause the pain you report under your ribcage, if your stomach is being injured. Nsaid's can predispose to stomach and esophagus (the swallowing tube) irritation from stomach acid, even to the point of an ulcer. Even if the pain went away, it should be checked out with your doctor; and even if the medication helps your arthritis, your doctor may feel you need to temporarily stop it. You should not mix advil and aleve, or any other nsaid, as this may increase risk of kidney irritation and stomach irritation.

Ask your doctor: Aleve (naproxen) can cause a number of problems that can show up as pain under the left rib cage. These include peptic ulcer and coronary artery problems. Don't know which blood levels would be affected, but you really should press your doctor for an explanation of your symptoms and of the abnormal blood test.