Summary: Trial Stopped Over Naproxen Risk

By The Associated Press

6:56 AM EST, December 21, 2004

THE NEWS: The federal government suspended a drug trial after researchers said there were more heart attacks and strokes among patients taking naproxen, an over-the-counter pain reliever commonly sold as Aleve.

THE TRIAL: The study was to test whether naproxen or Celebrex, another pain reliever, could reduce Alzheimer's risks among healthy elderly patients who were at an increased risk of the disease.

THE PROBLEM: Health officials said the study was halted after three years when it was found that patients taking naproxen had a 50 percent greater incidence of heart attack or stroke than patients taking a placebo.