You can take one Aleve tablet every 8 to 12 hours, with a maximum of three tablets in 24 hours. Each tablet contains 220 mg of naproxen sodium, and Aleve is designed to provide up to 12 hours of relief per dose, which means most people need it less frequently than other over-the-counter pain relievers.
Standard Dosing Schedule
For your first dose, you can take two tablets within the first hour to get ahead of the pain. After that, the schedule is one tablet every 8 to 12 hours for as long as symptoms last. The key limits to remember: no more than two tablets in any 8-to-12-hour window, and no more than three tablets total in a 24-hour period.
The FDA label advises using “the smallest effective dose,” which in practice means starting with one tablet and seeing if that handles your pain before reaching for a second. Many people find a single tablet every 12 hours is enough for mild to moderate pain, making Aleve a two-dose-per-day medication rather than something you take around the clock.
How Long You Can Keep Taking It
For general pain, the OTC label sets a 10-day limit. If your pain hasn’t improved or has gotten worse after 10 days, stop and talk to a doctor. For fever, the window is shorter: three days. These limits exist because the risks of naproxen sodium climb with duration of use, and persistent pain or fever can signal something that needs a different approach.
Some people do take naproxen for longer stretches under medical supervision, particularly for conditions like arthritis. But that involves a doctor weighing the benefits against the specific risks to your stomach, heart, and kidneys, and it often comes with a prescription-strength dose or protective medications alongside it.
Risks of Taking It Too Often or Too Long
Aleve belongs to the NSAID class of pain relievers, and like all NSAIDs (except aspirin), it carries three main risks that increase with higher doses and longer use.
Stomach bleeding. Naproxen can cause ulcers, bleeding, or tears in the stomach lining. These can happen at any time and without warning symptoms. Your risk is higher if you’re 60 or older, have a history of stomach ulcers, take blood thinners or steroids, use other NSAIDs at the same time, or drink three or more alcoholic beverages a day.
Heart and blood vessel problems. NSAIDs increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood clots. The FDA label states these events “can be fatal” and are more common when you take more than directed or for longer than directed. People with existing heart disease face the highest risk.
Kidney strain. Your kidneys rely on certain chemical signals that NSAIDs block. Over time, this can reduce kidney function. Warning signs include noticeably less urination or swelling in your ankles, hands, or feet.
Who Needs a Lower Dose
Adults over 65 should take no more than one tablet (220 mg) every 12 hours. That’s a maximum of two tablets per day, not three. Older adults face a meaningfully higher risk of stomach bleeding, and kidney function naturally declines with age, making the standard dose riskier.
Children under 12 should not take Aleve without a doctor’s guidance. The OTC product is approved for adults and children 12 and older only.
Pregnant women should avoid naproxen sodium, particularly at 20 weeks of pregnancy or later, because it can cause complications for the baby or during delivery. People allergic to aspirin should also steer clear, as naproxen can trigger severe allergic reactions including facial swelling, hives, or breathing difficulty.
How to Reduce Side Effects
Take Aleve at the end of a full meal rather than on an empty stomach. Food acts as a buffer between the medication and your stomach lining, lowering the chance of irritation. Taking it with an antacid also helps. Limit alcohol while you’re using Aleve, since alcohol irritates the stomach through a similar mechanism and compounds the risk.
Avoid stacking Aleve with other NSAIDs like ibuprofen or aspirin. Taking multiple NSAIDs at once doesn’t improve pain relief but does multiply the risk of stomach bleeding and kidney problems. If Aleve alone isn’t managing your pain within the recommended dosing limits, that’s a signal to explore other options with a healthcare provider rather than adding more anti-inflammatory medications on your own.