The maximum over-the-counter dose of Aleve is 3 tablets (660 mg of naproxen sodium) in 24 hours. Each tablet contains 220 mg, and you can take 1 tablet every 8 to 12 hours while symptoms last. For your very first dose, you can take 2 tablets within the first hour, then follow the regular schedule after that.
Dosing Schedule and Timing
Aleve works differently from shorter-acting pain relievers like ibuprofen. Each dose lasts 8 to 12 hours, which means you only need 2 to 3 doses per day rather than dosing every 4 to 6 hours. The spacing matters: taking doses too close together is one of the easiest ways to accidentally exceed the daily limit.
A typical day might look like this: 2 tablets as your first dose, then 1 tablet 12 hours later. Or 1 tablet in the morning, 1 around midday, and 1 in the evening, spaced at least 8 hours apart. Either way, never exceed 3 tablets total in a 24-hour window unless a doctor has specifically told you otherwise. Prescription doses of naproxen can be higher, but that requires medical supervision.
How Long You Can Keep Taking It
The FDA recommends talking to a healthcare provider before using over-the-counter naproxen for more than 10 consecutive days. That 10-day guideline exists because longer use raises the risk of stomach ulcers, kidney strain, and cardiovascular problems. If your pain hasn’t resolved within that window, the underlying cause likely needs evaluation rather than more medication.
Who Should Take Less
Not everyone can safely take the full 3-tablet daily maximum. Adults over 65 should start at the lowest effective dose because aging increases the risk of serious side effects involving the heart, kidneys, and digestive tract. The FDA label specifically advises starting at the low end of the dosing range for older adults and adjusting based on how they respond.
People with a history of stomach ulcers, kidney problems, or liver disease should also use a lower dose or avoid naproxen entirely. If you’ve had a stomach ulcer in the past, the NHS recommends using acetaminophen (paracetamol) instead, since it’s gentler on the stomach lining. Long-term naproxen use can cause new ulcers even in people who’ve never had one before.
Children and Teenagers
Over-the-counter Aleve is approved for children 12 and older at the same 1-tablet dose adults use, with the same 3-tablet daily maximum. Children under 12 should not take Aleve without a doctor’s guidance. There is no approved OTC dose for younger children, even at a reduced amount.
Risks of Taking Too Much
Going over the recommended dose, whether by doubling up or combining Aleve with another anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen, significantly raises your risk of problems. You should never take naproxen and ibuprofen together, since they belong to the same drug class and their side effects stack.
Signs of an overdose include severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, blurred vision, and ringing in the ears. In more serious cases, overdose can cause seizures, slowed breathing, confusion, or loss of consciousness. If you suspect someone has taken too much, call 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Factors That Increase Side Effects
Even at the correct dose, certain factors make naproxen riskier. Drinking alcohol while taking Aleve raises the chance of stomach bleeding. So does taking it alongside blood thinners, corticosteroids, or aspirin. If you’re on any of these medications, the effective “safe” dose may be lower than what the label allows.
Stomach bleeding from naproxen doesn’t always announce itself with dramatic symptoms. It can start as mild heartburn or dark stools that are easy to dismiss. The risk goes up the longer you take it and the higher your dose, which is why staying within the 3-tablet daily limit and the 10-day duration guideline matters even if you feel fine.