{"id":15232067,"date":"2026-07-29T04:28:56","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T08:28:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/tylenol-with-naproxen-fda-approves-fast-acting-non-opioid-for-pain-relief\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T04:33:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T08:33:23","slug":"tylenol-with-naproxen-fda-approves-fast-acting-non-opioid-for-pain-relief","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/tylenol-with-naproxen-fda-approves-fast-acting-non-opioid-for-pain-relief\/","title":{"rendered":"Tylenol with Naproxen: FDA Approves Fast-Acting Non-Opioid for Pain Relief"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1296\" height=\"728\" src=\"https:\/\/media.post.rvohealth.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/OTC_Acetaminophen-header-1296x728-1.jpg\" alt=\"Tylenol with Naproxen packaging\" class=\"wp-image-4882368\" \/><figcaption>A new fast-acting pain relief medication contains the active ingredients acetaminophen (Tylenol) and naproxen (Aleve). Photo courtesy of Kenvue<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Federal regulators have approved a new pain medication that combines the attributes of Tylenol and Aleve.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>The new product, Tylenol with Naproxen, is expected to be available soon as an over-the-counter medication in retail establishments across the United States.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Advocates say the combination medication provides the fast-acting relief of Tylenol and the longer-lasting power of Aleve.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A new over-the-counter medication that combines the pain-relieving aspects of Tylenol and Aleve is heading to store shelves.<\/p>\n<p>The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/drugs\/news-events-human-drugs\/fda-approves-first-nonprescription-fixed-dose-combination-acetaminophen-and-naproxen-sodium-12-hour\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">approved<\/a>&nbsp;Tylenol with Naproxen, a combination of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/drugs\/acetaminophen-dosage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">acetaminophen<\/a>, sold under the brand name Tylenol, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/pain-relief\/aleve-naproxen-side-effects\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">naproxen sodium<\/a>, sold under the brand name Aleve.<\/p>\n<p>Each tablet of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tylenol.com\/tylenol-with-naproxen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tylenol with Naproxen<\/a> contains 325 milligrams (mg) of acetaminophen and 110 mg of naproxen sodium. Two tablets can be taken every 12 hours.<\/p>\n<p>Kenvue, which manufactures Tylenol and Tylenol with Naproxen,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenvue.com\/media\/fda-approves-tylenol-with-naproxen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a>&nbsp;that Tylenol with Naproxen provides the fast-acting pain relief of acetaminophen along with the long-lasting effectiveness of naproxen sodium.<\/p>\n<p>The company said the new drug starts working within 30 minutes and offers pain relief for up to 12 hours. Kenvue added that the new medication will soon be available at retailers across the United States.<\/p>\n<p>Kenvue noted that eight clinical studies have demonstrated that Tylenol with Naproxen provides \u201csuperior pain relief\u201d compared with acetaminophen or naproxen sodium alone.<\/p>\n<p>The results of that research haven\u2019t been published in a peer-reviewed journal yet, but the findings will be presented at <a href=\"https:\/\/conference.painweek.org\/#venue\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PainWeek 2026<\/a>&nbsp;in Las Vegas in September.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis milestone reflects the long-standing leadership of Tylenol in translating rigorous clinical science into accessible, over\u2011the\u2011counter solutions,\u201d said&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/painweek2025.eventscribe.net\/fsPopup.asp?PresenterId=2193055&amp;mode=presenterinfo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rajesh Mishra<\/a>, MD, the chief medical officer at Kenvue, in a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenvue.com\/media\/fda-approves-tylenol-with-naproxen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">statement<\/a>. \u201cPersistent pain often leaves people trapped in a cycle of trial and error, navigating between choosing short-term relief or more complex treatment options.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The FDA granted Kenvue a three-year period of exclusivity for its new over-the-counter formulation.<\/p>\n<p>FDA officials said the new product is intended to be used for the \u201ctemporary relief of minor aches and pains due to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/headache\/types-of-headaches\">headache<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/back-pain\">backache<\/a>, muscular aches, toothache, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/womens-health\/how-to-get-rid-of-cramps\">menstrual cramps<\/a>, and minor pain of arthritis in adults and children 12 years and older.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The federal health agency noted that Tylenol with Naproxen is part of President Donald Trump\u2019s program,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/greathealthcare\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Great Healthcare Plan<\/a>, to \u201cmake more verified safe pharmaceutical drugs available for over-the-counter purchase\u201d to increase consumer choices and lower medication costs.<\/p>\n<h2>Acetaminophen-naproxen safe when taken as directed<\/h2>\n<p>Kenvue said a survey conducted by the company in March 2026 found that 75% of people with persistent pain are dissatisfied with their current relief options.<\/p>\n<p>They noted that the U.S. Department of Labor&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/agencies\/owcp\/opioids\/riskfactors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reports<\/a>&nbsp;that up to 1 in 4 people prescribed <a href=\"http:\/\/healthline.com\/health\/opiate-vs-opioid\/\">opioids<\/a> are at risk of addiction.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTylenol with Naproxen addresses this gap by combining two well-established non-opioid pain relievers into a single, clinically proven [over-the-counter] therapeutic solution that requires no prescription and carries no opioid risk,\u201d Kenvue officials said in their statement.<\/p>\n<p>There are some medication combinations now available for pain relief, but Tylenol with Naproxen is the first to combine acetaminophen with naproxen sodium.<\/p>\n<p>The idea of mixing these two medications isn\u2019t new. People have been taking&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/pain-relief\/naproxen-acetaminophen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">acetaminophen and naproxen together<\/a>&nbsp;for pain relief for years.<\/p>\n<p>Mixing the two medications is generally safe as long as dosing guidelines are followed.<\/p>\n<p>Acetaminophen can cause liver damage if taken in high doses or over a long period of time. Naproxen can cause allergic reactions, skin reactions, and severe stomach bleeding in some people.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the two pain-relief medications should not be taken with certain other prescription drugs, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/high-cholesterol\/blood-thinners\">blood thinners<\/a>. People who are pregnant should also consult with a doctor before taking these types of medications.<\/p>\n<h2>A combo of two well-established medications<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/profiles.stanford.edu\/sean-mackey\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sean Mackey<\/a>, MD, a professor of anesthesiology, perioperative, and pain medicine at Stanford University, said that the new combination medication should be helpful, but its introduction isn\u2019t groundbreaking.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe combination is pharmacologically reasonable, but there is very little that is genuinely new here,\u201d Mackey told Healthline. \u201cAcetaminophen and naproxen have been available over the counter for decades, and patients and clinicians already use them together. The main innovation is convenience: putting two familiar drugs into one tablet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI would not characterize this as an important advance in pain treatment,\u201d Mackey added. \u201cIt is a sensible repackaging of two established medications. Its clinical value will depend on whether the convenience justifies the added cost and reduced dosing flexibility.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cedars-sinai.org\/provider\/vernon-williams-156902.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vernon Williams<\/a>, MD, a sports neurologist, pain management specialist, and founding director of the Center for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Los Angeles, said his opinion of the new medication is \u201cfavorable with some caution.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He said the new product combines two effective pain medications that work well together. He said the 12-hour effectiveness window also allows people to take fewer doses. He adds that the new product can also \u201cprovide an alternative to some opioid-based medications.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, Williams said he has concerns that people will feel they don\u2019t need to follow safety precautions because the medication is sold over the counter.<\/p>\n<p>He said people with persistent pain may take too much of the combination drug or take other medications, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/pain-relief\/is-aspirin-nsaid\">aspirin<\/a>, along with it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey need to still follow proper procedures even though the drug is sold over the counter,\u201d Williams told Healthline.<\/p>\n<h2>What&#8217;s the difference between pain and chronic pain?<\/h2>\n<p>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/products\/databriefs\/db518.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">estimates<\/a>&nbsp;that 24% of adults in the United States have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/chronic-pain\">chronic pain<\/a>. About 8% have chronic pain that frequently limits life or work activities.<\/p>\n<p>Chronic pain rates increase with age, in particular in people 65 years and older. The prevalence is also higher in rural areas. Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native adults report the highest rates.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/pain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pain<\/a>&nbsp;is a sensation triggered by nervous system activation, often in response to actual or potential tissue damage.<\/p>\n<p>Pain can be sharp, dull, burning or throbbing. It can be concentrated in one part of the body or widespread.<\/p>\n<p>Pain is a subjective feeling. Some people have a high tolerance for pain while others don\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>Identifying the type of pain can help determine treatment. Treating the underlying cause of pain is usually the preferred option.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/types-of-pain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Acute pain<\/a>&nbsp;usually develops quickly and lasts for a short period of time.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/chronic-pain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chronic pain<\/a>&nbsp;lasts for months or even years.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/nociceptive-pain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nociceptive pain<\/a>&nbsp;occurs when tissue is damaged.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/neuropathic-pain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Neuropathic pain<\/a>&nbsp;occurs when nerves are damaged or are malfunctioning.<\/p>\n<h2>Advice for pain management<\/h2>\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/pain#treatment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">treatment for pain<\/a>&nbsp;varies greatly, depending on the type of pain and how severe it is.<\/p>\n<p>Pain caused by an injury usually lessens as the injury heals. Many medical professionals prescribe the so-called&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/sports-injuries\/treatment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RICE therapy<\/a>&nbsp;of rest, ice, compression, and elevation.<\/p>\n<p>Doctors may also&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/pain#treatment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">prescribe<\/a>&nbsp;pain medications and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/occupational-therapy-vs-physical-therapy\">physical or occupational therapy<\/a>. Alternative treatments such as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/biofeedback\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">biofeedback<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/acupuncture-how-does-it-work-scientifically\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">acupuncture<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/mental-health\/types-of-meditation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">meditation<\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/types-of-massage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">massage<\/a>&nbsp;can also be utilized.<\/p>\n<p>Williams said the main thing for people to remember is that pain is an indication that there is an injury or illness somewhere in the body.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey should view pain as a symptom. It\u2019s a warning sign,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Williams said people can take medication to dull pain, but they should still get a diagnosis from a medical professional on what\u2019s causing the pain.<\/p>\n<p>He noted that chronic pain can produce other health issues, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/inflammation\">inflammation<\/a> or sleep deprivation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou want to be sure you have an assessment done on your symptoms because they are a warning sign,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inmi-source\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health-news\/fda-approves-otc-tylenol-naproxen-combo-pain-relief\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">News \u2013 World \u2013 Canada \u2013 rss.app #1 \u2192 manual entry<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new fast-acting pain relief medication contains the active ingredients acetaminophen (Tylenol) and naproxen (Aleve). Photo courtesy of Kenvue<\/p>\n<p>Federal regulators have approved a new pain medication that combines the attributes of Tylenol and Aleve.<\/p>\n<p>The new product, Tylenol with Naproxen, is\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15232069,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[103],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15232067","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-canada"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15232067-otc_acetaminophen-header-1296x728-1.avif",1296,728,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15232067-otc_acetaminophen-header-1296x728-1-300x169.avif",300,169,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15232067-otc_acetaminophen-header-1296x728-1-620x348.avif",620,348,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15232067-otc_acetaminophen-header-1296x728-1-768x431.avif",768,431,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15232067-otc_acetaminophen-header-1296x728-1-940x528.avif",940,528,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15232067-otc_acetaminophen-header-1296x728-1.avif",1296,728,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15232067-otc_acetaminophen-header-1296x728-1.avif",1296,728,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15232067-otc_acetaminophen-header-1296x728-1-998x665.avif",998,665,true],"ignition_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15232067-otc_acetaminophen-header-1296x728-1-670x446.avif",670,446,true],"ignition_item_lg":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15232067-otc_acetaminophen-header-1296x728-1.avif",1296,728,false],"ignition_article_media":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15232067-otc_acetaminophen-header-1296x728-1-510x510.avif",510,510,true],"ignition_minicart_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15232067-otc_acetaminophen-header-1296x728-1-160x160.avif",160,160,true],"profile_24":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15232067-otc_acetaminophen-header-1296x728-1-24x24.avif",24,24,true],"profile_48":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15232067-otc_acetaminophen-header-1296x728-1-48x48.avif",48,48,true],"profile_96":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15232067-otc_acetaminophen-header-1296x728-1-96x96.avif",96,96,true],"profile_150":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15232067-otc_acetaminophen-header-1296x728-1-150x150.avif",150,150,true],"profile_300":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15232067-otc_acetaminophen-header-1296x728-1-300x300.avif",300,300,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"news.iNthacity","author_link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/author\/atombo\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/articles\/news\/canada\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Canada<\/a>","tag_info":"Canada","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15232067","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15232067"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15232067\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15232068,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15232067\/revisions\/15232068"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15232069"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15232067"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15232067"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15232067"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}