DICLOFENAC SODIUM vs NAPROXEN SODIUM

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 23, 2026·How we rate

Attribute	DICLOFENAC SODIUM	NAPROXEN SODIUM
Rating	70/100	New
Pharmacy pays	$0.36 /mL	$0.06 /mL
Type	RX	OTC
Active ingredient	DICLOFENAC SODIUM	NAPROXEN SODIUM
Manufacturer	Amneal	Hetero Labs Ltd V
Dosage forms	Solution, Drops, Topical, Tablet, delayed release, Tablet, extended release, Tablet, Kit	Capsule, Tablet, Tablet, extended release
Drug class	Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug	Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug
Boxed warning	Boxed warning	None
Half-life	about 2 hours (terminal/elimination half-life; the label's table gives a mean of 2.3 hours in healthy adults, with wide variation between people — 48% coefficient of variation)	about 12 to 17 hours
Treats	Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dysmenorrhea	Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Back Pain

diclofenac sodium naproxen sodium

Rating

70/100

New

Pharmacy pays

$0.36 /mL

$0.06 /mL

Type

OTC

Active ingredient

DICLOFENAC SODIUM

NAPROXEN SODIUM

Manufacturer

Amneal

Hetero Labs Ltd V

Dosage forms

Solution, Drops, Topical, Tablet, delayed release, Tablet, extended release, Tablet, Kit

Capsule, Tablet, Tablet, extended release

Drug class

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug

Boxed warning

None

Half-life

about 2 hours (terminal/elimination half-life; the label's table gives a mean of 2.3 hours in healthy adults, with wide variation between people — 48% coefficient of variation)

about 12 to 17 hours

Treats

Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dysmenorrhea

Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Back Pain

Get naproxen sodium

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Where to buy

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Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, Diclofenac Sodium or Naproxen Sodium?

Naproxen Sodium costs pharmacies less to acquire — about $0.06 vs $0.36 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. That gap is in the pharmacy's cost of goods, not necessarily in what you pay: your price is set afterwards by your insurer and the pharmacy.

What is the difference between Diclofenac Sodium and Naproxen Sodium?

Diclofenac Sodium contains Diclofenac Sodium, while Naproxen Sodium contains Naproxen Sodium — they have different active ingredients.

Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data. This comparison is for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional before choosing or switching a medication.