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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 other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
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.
Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of bleeding in your stomach or intestines. This includes black, bloody, or tarry stools, or coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or pain medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Many medicines available over the counter contain aspirin or other medicines similar to diclofenac (such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen). If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of this type of medication. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen. Do not drink alcohol while taking diclofenac. Alcohol can increase the risk of stomach bleeding caused by diclofenac. Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Diclofenac can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result.
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.
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to diclofenac, or if you have a history of allergic reaction to aspirin or other NSAIDs.
Before taking diclofenac, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
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a history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot;
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heart disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure;
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a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding;
- liver or kidney disease,
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asthma;
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polyps in your nose;
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a bleeding or blood clotting disorder; or
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if you smoke.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take diclofenac.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Taking diclofenac during the last 3 months of pregnancy may harm the unborn baby. Do not take diclofenac during pregnancy unless your doctor has told you to. Diclofenac can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give this medicine to a child without the advice of a doctor.
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.
If you take diclofenac for a long period of time, your doctor may want to check you on a regular basis to make sure this medication is not causing harmful effects. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
Store diclofenac at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
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.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, drowsiness, black or bloody stools, coughing up blood, shallow breathing, and fainting.
What should I avoid while taking diclofenac?
Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or pain medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Many medicines available over the counter contain aspirin or other medicines similar to diclofenac (such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen). If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of this type of medication. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen. Do not drink alcohol while taking diclofenac. Alcohol can increase the risk of stomach bleeding caused by diclofenac. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Diclofenac may increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable.
Diclofenac side effects
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:
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chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;
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black, bloody, or tarry stools;
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coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
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swelling or rapid weight gain;
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urinating less than usual or not at all;
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nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
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fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
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bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; or
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fever, headache, neck stiffness, chills, increased sensitivity to light, purple spots on the skin, and/or seizure (convulsions).
Less serious side effects may include:
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upset stomach, mild heartburn or stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation;
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bloating, gas;
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dizziness, headache, nervousness;
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skin itching or rash;
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blurred vision; or
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ringing in your ears.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
Diclofenac Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Osteoarthritis: Diclofenac: 50 mg orally 2 to 3 times a day or 75 mg orally twice a day. Doses >150 mg/day are not recommended for osteoarthritis.
Diclofenac Extended-release: 100 mg orally once a day. Usual Adult Dose for Ankylosing Spondylitis: Diclofenac Sodium:: 25 mg orally 4 times a day. An additional 25 mg dose may be administered at bedtime, if necessary. Usual Adult Dose for Dysmenorrhea: Diclofenac Potassium: 50 mg orally 3 times a day. In some patients an initial dose of 100 mg of diclofenac potassium, followed by 50 mg doses, will provide better relief.
After the first day, the total daily dose should generally not exceed 150 mg. Usual Adult Dose for Pain: Diclofenac Potassium: 50 mg orally 3 times a day. In some patients an initial dose of 100 mg of diclofenac potassium, followed by 50 mg doses, will provide better relief.
After the first day, the total daily dose should generally not exceed 150 mg. Usual Adult Dose for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Diclofenac: 50 mg orally 3 to 4 times a day or 75 mg orally twice a day.
Diclofenac Extended-release: 100 mg orally once a day.
Doses greater than 225 mg/day are not recommended for rheumatoid arthritis. Usual Pediatric Dose for Pain: Diclofenac:
1 to 12 years: 2 to 3 mg/kg/day in equally divided doses 2 to 4 times a day.
What other drugs will affect diclofenac?
Tell your doctor if you are taking an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor). Taking any of these drugs with diclofenac may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.
Before taking diclofenac, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:
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a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
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cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune);
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lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
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methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);
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diuretics (water pills) such as furosemide (Lasix).
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steroids (prednisone and others);
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aspirin or other NSAIDs 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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an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), ramipril (Altace), and others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with diclofenac. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about diclofenac.
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