NAPROXEN vs VOLTAREN-XR

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 16, 2026·How we rate

Possible drug interaction. NAPROXEN and VOLTAREN-XR are different prescription medicines. Combining or switching between them can cause interactions — talk to a pharmacist or prescriber before making changes. This page is not medical advice.

Attribute	NAPROXEN	VOLTAREN-XR
Rating	72/100	70/100
Pharmacy pays	$0.06 /mL	$0.36 /mL
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	NAPROXEN	DICLOFENAC SODIUM
Manufacturer	Hikma	Novartis
Dosage forms	Tablet	Tablet, extended release
Drug class	Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug	Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug
Boxed warning	Boxed warning	None
Half-life	about 12 to 17 hours	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)
Treats	Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Back Pain	Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dysmenorrhea

naproxen voltaren-xr

Rating

72/100

70/100

Pharmacy pays

$0.06 /mL

$0.36 /mL

Type

Active ingredient

NAPROXEN

DICLOFENAC SODIUM

Manufacturer

Hikma

Novartis

Dosage forms

Tablet

Tablet, extended release

Drug class

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug

Boxed warning

None

Half-life

about 12 to 17 hours

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)

Treats

Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Back Pain

Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dysmenorrhea

Frequently asked questions

Which is better-rated, Naproxen or Voltaren-XR?

By our independent rating, Naproxen scores higher — 3.6 vs 3.5 out of 5 for Voltaren-XR. Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data.

Which is cheaper, Naproxen or Voltaren-XR?

Naproxen 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 Naproxen and Voltaren-XR?

Naproxen contains Naproxen, while Voltaren-XR contains Diclofenac 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.