Because Aleve is a NSAID like, aspirin and ibuprofen for example, all of which increase your risk for GI bleeds. They can aggravate your UC. It doesn't have anything to do with interacting with Lialda.

I feel for you. This is a good time to have a discussion with your pharmacist, and your doctor. They should be able to find something that won't cause problems.

My doctors have all told me to avoid all OTC meds until I get them cleared with either the dr. or the pharmacist. For me, they either cause bleeding, constipation, or diarrhea. I also have an intolerance for some meds, which aggravates the issue. Oddly, an occasional asprin doesn't seem to bother me.

After being dx'd w UC you are advised not to take non-sterodial antiinflammatories NAISD's or something like that. They are known to cause bleeding so they add bleeding risks to the intestines.

Rmb and kitty are right, it is the NSAID that can cause a flare like it did for me, my doctor prescribed my Naproxen (prescription Aleve) for migraines. Obviously poor thinking on her part which is probably why I'm going through a flare now.

My doctor said I can take Tylenol and house brands like Tylenol but they only are good for pain and not fever and such.

So I just had a check up with my GI last week and this topic came up. For the last few years, I've had arthritis in my hands, likely due to the UC. So he wrote me a prescription for Sulfasalazine a while back, which helped. It's not so much that it helps directly to relieve pain, but it may help with the inflammation, which in turn helps with the pain. It's what they used to prescribe for mild rheumatoid arthritis. Plus, the added bonus is that there are properties to sulfasalazine that help prevent colon cancer.

Anyway, within the last two months, the joint pain in my right hand is through the roof. My job requires a tremendous amount of typing, and I had been so busy with work the last couple of months that it has aggravated things, to the point where typing, using a computer mouse, opening a lid on a jar, holding the steering wheel, etc are super painful. So.... I mentioned it to my GI, and he said, once in a while, when it gets really bad, it's ok to take Ibuprofen. Now he said this knowing I'm also on an anticoagulant which also increases the risk for bleeding. The caveat to all this is that my UC is in remission. If I were not in remission and my colon was inflamed, he would not recommend me taking Ibuprofen. So if you do choose to take an over the counter NSAID even if your doc said no go, consider the state of your UC first and foremost. I'd also take them with food. I've yet to take Ibuprofen despite his advice so I can't see what the result has been. I'm trying to manage it without it, but I have some on hand, just in case.

I would also go back to your doctor and ask for something to help you. If its arthritis, joint, tendon, muscle related pain, there may be topical prescriptions that you can use. While some are considered similar to an NSAID and so technically may cause bleeding since it does get into your system, the risk is lower than an oral NSAID. I used a prescribed cream several times a day for about 6 months for tendonitis in my arm several years ago and I was fine.

Also, if you're seeing your regular doctor for pain relief of any kind (as opposed to your GI), you have to remind them you are limited in what you can take because of IBD. I get it; they should know all our health history dos and don'ts, but that's not a realistic assumption, unfortunately. You have to educate yourself and be your own advocate every time you see a doctor or nurse.