You have entered an invalid code. Submit Cancel. Thank you for submitting a comment on this article. Your comment will be reviewed and published at the journal's discretion. Please check for further notifications by email. Sign in Don't already have an Oxford Academic account?
You could not be signed in. Sign In Forgot password? Don't have an account? British Society for Rheumatology members Sign in via society site. Sign in via your Institution Sign in. Purchase Subscription prices and ordering for this journal Short-term Access To purchase short term access, please sign in to your Oxford Academic account above. This article is also available for rental through DeepDyve. View Metrics. If you need to go to hospital, take the diclofenac packet or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine, with you.
If you use too many plasters or patches or too much gel by mistake, it's unlikely to do you any harm. But if you use too much and get any side effects, tell your doctor straight away. It's safe to take diclofenac with paracetamol or codeine. Do not take diclofenac with similar painkillers, like aspirin , ibuprofen or naproxen , without talking to a doctor. Diclofenac, aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen all belong to the same group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs.
Taking diclofenac together with other NSAIDs may increase your chances of getting side effects like a stomach ache.
NSAIDs are also used in medicines you can buy from pharmacies, such as cough and cold remedies. Before taking any other medicines together with diclofenac, check the label to see if they contain ibuprofen, aspirin or other NSAIDs. Like all medicines, diclofenac can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Common side effects of diclofenac tablets, capsules and suppositories happen in more than 1 in people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away:.
You're less likely to have side effects with diclofenac gel or plasters. This is because less medicine gets into your body. But you may still get the same side effects, especially if you use a lot on a large area of skin.
Using diclofenac gel or plasters can affect your skin. It can make your skin:. These serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1, people. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to diclofenac.
These are not all the side effects of diclofenac. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. This is because diclofenac may cause problems for your unborn baby. For example it can affect your baby's circulation and it can cause you to have too little amniotic fluid surrounding your baby in the womb. Your doctor will only advise you to take diclofenac while you're pregnant if the benefits of taking the medicine clearly outweigh the risks.
There may be other treatments that are safer for you. Paracetamol is generally the best painkiller to take during pregnancy. You can take diclofenac while breastfeeding. Only very small amounts get into breast milk which are unlikely to cause side effects in your baby. Many breastfeeding mothers have used it without any problems. If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your midwife, health visitor, pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible.
For more information about how this medicine can affect you and your baby, read this leaflet on diclofenac on the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy BUMPs website.
There are some medicines that affect the way diclofenac works. Tell your doctor if you're taking:. It's not possible to say that complementary medicines or herbal remedies are safe to take with diclofenac.
They're not tested in the same way as prescription medicines or medicines sold in pharmacies. They're generally not tested for the effect they can have on other medicines. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.
It works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. When you apply diclofenac gel, plasters or patches to your skin, it works in the same way as when you take it as a tablet or capsule. But the gel, plaster or patch only works on the area you have put it on. Diclofenac takes 20 to 30 minutes to work if you take it as tablets or capsules. Suppositories take a few hours to work. There's no difference in how well the tablets, capsules or suppositories work.
The doses of diclofenac are the same for each. If you're using diclofenac gel, plasters or patches on your skin, it usually takes 1 to 2 days to work. For arthritis, you may need to use the gel for up to 7 days on the painful joint to feel the full effect. Depending on why you're taking diclofenac, you may only need to take it for a short time. For example, if you have a sore back or toothache, you may only need to take diclofenac for 1 or 2 days. You may need to take it for longer if you have a long-term condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
If you need to take diclofenac tablets or capsules for a long time, your doctor may prescribe a medicine to protect your stomach from side effects. It's best to take the lowest dose of diclofenac for the shortest time to control your symptoms.
Talk to your doctor if you're unsure how long you need to take it for. Diclofenac tablets and capsules can cause an ulcer in your stomach or gut if you take them for a long time or in big doses. Enjoying our content? Thanks for visiting Clinical Pain Advisor. If you wish to read unlimited content, please log in or register below. Registration is free. Register for free and gain unlimited access to:. More serious adverse effects include stomach ulcers and renal or liver problems.
These side effects are more likely to occur if you have a history of them or are taking other medications that can interact with NSAIDs. This may not be a complete list. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for other side effects. Diclofenac and ibuprofen are NSAIDs that can interact with blood pressure medications like angiotensin-converting enzyme ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers ARBs , beta blockers, and diuretics. NSAIDs may reduce the blood pressure lowering effects of these antihypertensive medications.
These medications can interact and increase the risk of stomach ulcers. NSAIDs can also interact with other medications and increase their levels in the body.
Taking NSAIDs with drugs like lithium, digoxin, and methotrexate can increase the risk of adverse side effects. This may not be a complete list of all possible drug interactions.
Consult a doctor with all medications you may be taking. Using NSAIDs can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke, especially if you have a medical history of them. NSAIDs may worsen heart failure or alter the effects of blood pressure medications.
NSAIDs can also increase the risk of gastrointestinal events such as bleeding or ulcers in the stomach and intestines. Diclofenac and ibuprofen should be avoided or monitored in people with liver or kidney problems. NSAIDs should not be used during late pregnancy. Taking NSAIDs after 30 weeks of gestation can cause premature closure of the ductus arteriosus, a blood vessel in the fetal heart.
Talk to your doctor about using NSAIDs during early stages of pregnancy as they should only be taken if the potential benefits outweigh the risks. It is FDA approved for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.
Diclofenac often comes as a prescription oral tablet or topical gel and is used two or three times a day. It is available over the counter to treat pain and fever in adults and children. Prescription-strength ibuprofen is also available and is usually taken every 6 to 8 hours.
0コメント