What's in Advil vs Aleve?

Active ingredients

Inactive ingredients both list 2

• Cellulose

  Inactive ingredient on both labels (on Advil's label as microcrystalline cellulose; on Aleve's label as cellulose, microcrystalline) from source

• titanium dioxide

Only on Advil's label 23

• Allura Red ACC18H14N2Na2O8S2

  Inactive ingredient (on the label as FD&C red No. 40) from source

• Sunset yellow FCFC16H10N2Na2O7S2

  Inactive ingredient (on the label as FD&C yellow No. 6) from source

• Gelatin

  Inactive ingredient (on the label as gelatin, unspecified) from source

• GlycerolC3H8O3

  Inactive ingredient (on the label as glycerin) from source

• Silicon dioxideO2Si

  Inactive ingredient from source

• Sodium lauryl sulfateC12H25NaO4S

  Inactive ingredient from source

• Starch

  Inactive ingredient (on the label as starch, corn) from source

• Stearic acidC18H36O2

  Inactive ingredient from source

• WaterH2O

  Inactive ingredient from source

• ShellacC30H50O11

  Inactive ingredient from source

• Sodium benzoateC7H5NaO2

  Inactive ingredient from source

• SucroseC12H22O11

  Inactive ingredient from source

• croscarmellose sodium
• ferric oxide red
• hypromellose, unspecified
• medium-chain triglycerides
• propyl gallate
• triacetin
• methylparaben
• povidone, unspecified
• propylparaben
• white wax
• diacetylated monoglycerides

Only on Aleve's label 6

• Magnesium stearateC36H70MgO4

  Inactive ingredient from source

• polyethylene glycol, unspecified
• povidone
• talc
• FD&C blue No. 2
• hypromelloses

Common questions

What is the difference between Advil and Aleve?

Advil's active ingredient is ibuprofen and Aleve's is naproxen sodium; cellulose is the one inactive ingredient both labels list.

What is the active ingredient in Advil and in Aleve?

Advil's label lists ibuprofen 200 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer as its active ingredient. Aleve's label lists naproxen 220 mg (naproxen 200 mg), pain reliever/fever reducer as its active ingredient.

Which ingredients do Advil and Aleve share?

Both labels list cellulose and titanium dioxide.