aleve

What is Aleve?

From the FDA label:Uses temporarily relieves minor aches and pains due to: minor pain of arthritis muscular aches backache menstrual cramps headache toothache the common cold temporarily reduces fever

How to use

Aleve is sold in more than one form (Capsule and Tablet), and each is dosed differently. The instructions below come from the FDA label for application NDA020204 — follow the label that came with the product you were actually prescribed.

How long does Naproxen Sodium stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of naproxen sodium is about 12 to 17 hours — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. This is naproxen's elimination (terminal) half-life in healthy adults; its metabolites have shorter half-lives, so there is no longer-acting active metabolite to account for. The half-life is prolonged in severe renal impairment, and above 500 mg/day the drug shows nonlinear (dose-dependent) kinetics because plasma protein binding becomes saturated.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: NAPROXEN tablet, delayed release — DailyMed (FDA label).

Frequently asked questions

What does Aleve treat?

Aleve (Naproxen Sodium) may be used to treat juvenile arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, bursitis, common cold, dysmenorrhea, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.

How does Aleve work?

Aleve is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. NSAIDs block cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes that your body uses to make prostaglandins, the chemicals behind pain, swelling, and fever. Lowering prostaglandins eases pain and inflammation and brings down a high temperature.

How much does Aleve cost?

Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $0.06 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins. Pharmacies pay less for a same-class option, Advil — about $0.04 on the same basis.

Is there a coupon or discount for Aleve?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Aleve. To pay less, look for a store-brand version with the same active ingredient (Naproxen Sodium), which is typically cheaper, and compare unit prices. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.

Who makes Aleve?

Aleve is marketed by Bayer Pharms. You can see Bayer Pharms's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Aleve a brand-name or generic drug?

Aleve is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Naproxen Sodium. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Naproxen Sodium are available — ask your pharmacist.

Is Aleve available over the counter?

Yes. Aleve is an over-the-counter (OTC) product — you can buy it without a prescription. Follow the label directions and ask a pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's right for you.

What forms does Aleve come in?

Aleve is currently marketed as capsule and tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.

What class of drug is Aleve?

Aleve is classified as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.

Is Aleve FDA-registered?

Aleve is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA020204. You can verify this on its official FDA label.