• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is diclofenac?
Diclofenac is in a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Diclofenac works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. Diclofenac is used to treat pain or inflammation caused by arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis. Diclofenac may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of diclofenac?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop taking diclofenac and seek medical attention or call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;

• black, bloody, or tarry stools;

• coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

• swelling or rapid weight gain;

• urinating less than usual or not at all;

• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;

• bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; or

• fever, headache, neck stiffness, chills, increased sensitivity to light, purple spots on the skin, and/or seizure (convulsions).

Keep taking diclofenac and talk to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

• upset stomach, mild heartburn or stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation;

• bloating, gas;

• dizziness, headache, nervousness;

• skin itching or rash;

• blurred vision; or

• ringing in your ears.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

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How should I take diclofenac?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. If you switch brands of diclofenac, your dose needs may change. Follow your doctor's instructions about how much medicine to take. Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

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What is the most important information I should know about diclofenac?
This medicine can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the longer you use diclofenac. Do not use this medicine just before or after having heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG). Seek emergency medical help if you have symptoms of heart or circulation problems, such as chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, or problems with vision or balance. This medicine can also increase your risk of serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and gastrointestinal effects can occur without warning at any time while you are taking diclofenac. Older adults may have an even greater risk of these serious gastrointestinal side effects.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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What other drugs will affect diclofenac?
Before taking diclofenac, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs: a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall); diuretics (water pills) such as furosemide (Lasix). steroids (prednisone and others); aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and others; or

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Diclofenac has been assigned to pregnancy category B by the FDA. Animal studies failed to reveal evidence of teratogenicity. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. While there were no literature reports located linking the use of diclofenac in pregnancy with birth defects, use late in pregnancy may cause premature closure of the ductus arteriosus and prolong labor and delivery. Diclofenac should only be given during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk. Diclofenac should be avoided near term.

Diclofenac is excreted into human milk. The manufacturer recommends diclofenac not be used during lactation.

While the manufacturer recommends avoiding diclofenac during lactation, one review paper recommends diclofenac as a suitable nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent for use during lactation. The authors based this recommendation on the drug's short half-life and results of a study which failed to detect diclofenac in human milk (< 10 ng/mL) following either a single 50 mg oral dose or 100 mg orally daily for 1 week.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to diclofenac or any ingredient in the formulation.
• History of asthma, urticaria, or other sensitivity reaction precipitated by aspirin or other NSAIAs.
• Treatment of perioperative pain in the setting of CABG surgery.
• Diclofenac sodium in fixed combination with misoprostol is contraindicated in pregnant women.

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What does my medication look like?
Diclofenac is available with a prescription under the brand names Cataflam and Voltaren. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you. Cataflam 50 mg--round, biconvex, light-brown tablets Voltaren 25 mg--triangular, biconvex, yellow tablets Voltaren 50 mg--triangular, biconvex, light-brown tablets Voltaren 75 mg--triangular, biconvex, light-pink tablets Voltaren XR 100 mg--round, biconvex, light-pink, coated tablets

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a diclofenac overdose may include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, drowsiness, black or bloody stools, coughing up blood, shallow breathing, fainting, or coma.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking diclofenac?
Taking an NSAID can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the longer you use an NSAID. Do not use this medicine just before or after having heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG). NSAIDs can also increase your risk of serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and gastrointestinal effects can occur without warning at any time while you are taking an NSAID. Older adults may have an even greater risk of these serious gastrointestinal side effects.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
If you are taking an analgesic for pain and you are no longer experiencing the pain you may stop using the medication. In general, pain medications are to be used on an as needed basis.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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