Aleve safer for the heart than Advil and Motrin

The pain reliever Aleve may be safer for the heart than Advil and Motrin, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

On Tuesday, the agency posted a review online that said naproxen -- the main ingredient in Aleve and a number of generic pain killers -- may pose a lower risk of heart attack and stroke than ibuprofen, which is used in Advil and Motrin.

The review -- which suggested that products with naproxen should be relabeled to highlight their heart safety -- was prompted by the release last year of an analysis that looked at 350,000 people taking different types of pain relievers. It concluded that naproxen does not carry the same heart risks as other NSAIDs.

The FDA review was released ahead of next week's meeting of a panel of outside experts who will discuss the new data and recommend whether naproxen should be relabeled. The FDA typically follows the advice of its expert panels.