Diclofenac

Diclofenac Medication Information

What Is Diclofenac?

Diclofenac is a prescription medication available in several different forms, used to treat several different conditions. It is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Some of the approved uses of diclofenac products include the treatment of the following conditions:

Pain
Arthritis
Migraines
Actinic keratosis (a precancerous skin condition).

(Click What Is Diclofenac Used For? for more information on what the medication is used for, including additional approved uses and possible off-label uses.)

Potential Side Effects

As with any medicine, diclofenac may cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well.

If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.

The side effects of this medication may vary, depending on the particular form of diclofenac used. In general, some of the most commonly reported side effects of oral diclofenac included:

Nausea
Headache
Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
Vomiting.

(Click Diclofenac Side Effects to learn more, including side effect information for other forms of the drug and potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Using It?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking this medicine if you have:

Asthma
Heart disease, including congestive heart failure
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Liver disease or liver failure
Kidney disease or kidney failure
Bleeding problems (or are taking a blood-thinning medication)
Stomach ulcers, stomach bleeding, or a history of these problems
Any allergies, including allergies to medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives.

Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:

Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant (see Diclofenac and Pregnancy)
Breastfeeding (see Diclofenac and Breastfeeding).

Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

(Click Diclofenac Warnings and Precautions to learn more, including information on who should not take the drug.)

How Does Diclofenac Work?

Like other NSAIDs, diclofenac works by blocking a specific enzyme known as cyclooxygenase (COX), blocking the production of various inflammatory substances in the body. This action helps to treat pain and inflammation but also seems to help treat seemingly unrelated conditions (such as actinic keratosis).

When and How to Take It

Some general considerations include the following:

Diclofenac comes in a variety of different forms (tablets, extended-release tablets, capsules, gel, skin patches, and eye drops). The specific instructions for the different products vary substantially.
For the oral products, it is usually recommended to take diclofenac (and other NSAIDs) with food to help prevent stomach upset. However, food may cause this medication to work more slowly.
If you take this medication more than once per day, try to space out your doses evenly throughout the day.
For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed.

Dosing Information

The dosage that your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:

The particular diclofenac product
The medical condition being treated
Other medical conditions you may have
Other medications you may currently be taking.

As with any medication, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.

(Click Diclofenac Dosage for more information.)

Drug Interactions With Diclofenac

This drug can potentially interact with several other medications (see Diclofenac Drug Interactions).

Overdose Information

An overdose with this medication may cause serious effects. Seek immediate medical attention if you or someone else may have taken an overdose.

(Click Diclofenac Overdose for more information.)

Storage Methods

Diclofenac should be stored at room temperature. Keep this and all other medications out of the reach of children and pets.

Diclofenac Strengths

This medicine comes in the following strengths and forms:

Diclofenac potassium 50 mg tablets (Cataflam^®)
Diclofenac potassium 25 mg liquid-filled capsules (Zipsor^™)
Diclofenac potassium 50 mg packets to be mixed with water (Cambia^™)
Diclofenac sodium 25 mg, 50 mg, and 75 mg tablets (Voltaren^®)
Diclofenac sodium extended-release 100 mg tablets (Voltaren^®-XR)
Diclofenac patch (Flector^®)
Diclofenac 1 percent gel (Voltaren^® Gel)
Diclofenac 3 percent gel (Solaraze^® Gel)
Diclofenac sodium 0.1 percent eye drops (Voltaren Ophthalmic^®).

Generic Availability

Many (but not all) diclofenac products are available in generic form.

(Click Generic Diclofenac for more information.)