Throw away the empty packet in a trash can that is out of the reach of children and pets. This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. The powder for solution is usually taken as needed for migraine headaches. If you are taking any other diclofenac product and you forget to take a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it.
However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Diclofenac may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication. Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture not in the bathroom. It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily.
To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location — one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at Do not let anyone else take your medication.
Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements.
You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. Generic alternatives may be available.
Diclofenac pronounced as dye kloe' fen ak. Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? 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. There's also a small risk of heart failure or kidney failure if you take very big doses mg a day for a long time.
It's best to take the lowest dose that works for the shortest possible time. If you need to take diclofenac very often or you're taking a big dose, talk to your doctor about the best way to treat your pain. The type of painkiller that's best depends on what type of pain you have and the cause of your pain. Ibuprofen and naproxen also belong to this group of painkillers. If you need to take an NSAID long term, your doctor or pharmacist may recommend ibuprofen or naproxen instead of diclofenac.
This is because they're less likely to cause heart problems. If NSAIDs do not get rid of your pain, you can try painkillers that you can buy from pharmacies and shops, such as paracetamol or co-codamol paracetamol combined with low-dose codeine. If the medicine you buy is not controlling your pain, your doctor may recommend additional treatment to help your pain, such as exercise or physiotherapy.
Diclofenac does not work for some types of pain, such as nerve pain. Your doctor will have to prescribe a different medicine to treat peripheral neuropathy nerve pain.
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, or if you're elderly or in poor general health. Your doctor may tell you not to take diclofenac if you have a stomach ulcer or have had one in the past. If you need to take diclofenac but you're at risk of getting a stomach ulcer, your doctor may prescribe another medicine for you to take alongside diclofenac to protect your stomach.
It's important to take your diclofenac tablets or capsules after a meal or snack, or with a drink of milk. They'll be less likely to upset or irritate your stomach. The most common symptom of a stomach ulcer is a burning or gnawing pain in the centre of the stomach. But stomach ulcers are not always painful and some people may have other symptoms, such as indigestion, heartburn and feeling sick. If you're prone to stomach ulcers or have had one before, take paracetamol instead of diclofenac as it's gentler on your stomach.
Stop taking diclofenac and contact your doctor if you think you may have symptoms of a stomach ulcer. These can include intense pain in the centre of your stomach, indigestion, heartburn and feeling sick.
No, diclofenac is not addictive, but it's important to always take it as prescribed. When you stop taking diclofenac tablets or capsules, or stop using the suppositories, the effects will wear off after about 15 hours. When you stop using the gel, plasters or patches, the effects will wear off after 1 or 2 days. Taking anti-inflammatory medicines, like diclofenac, in large doses or for a long time can affect ovulation in women. This may make it more difficult to get pregnant. Do not take diclofenac if you're trying to get pregnant, or if you're having tests for infertility.
Diclofenac will not affect any contraceptives, including the combined pill or emergency contraception. Yes, you can drink alcohol while taking diclofenac. But drinking too much alcohol may irritate your stomach.
Try to keep to the recommended guidelines of no more than 14 units of alcohol a week. A standard glass of wine ml is 2 units. A pint of lager or beer is usually 2 to 3 units of alcohol. Apart from not drinking too much alcohol, you can eat and drink normally while taking diclofenac. It happens rarely, but some people can feel tired, dizzy or sleepy when they take diclofenac.
They may also have problems with their eyesight. If diclofenac affects you in this way, do not drive or ride a bike until it passes and you feel OK again. Page last reviewed: 10 June Next review due: 10 June Diclofenac - Brand names: Voltarol, Dicloflex, Diclomax, Econac, Fenactol, Motifene On this page About diclofenac Key facts Who can and cannot take diclofenac How and when to take or use diclofenac Taking diclofenac with other painkillers Side effects How to cope with side effects of diclofenac Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions about diclofenac.
Drug information provided by: IBM Micromedex. Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug NSAID used to treat mild-to-moderate pain, and helps to relieve symptoms of arthritis eg, osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis , such as inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and joint pain.
This medicine does not cure arthritis and will only help you as long as you continue to take it. This medicine is also used to treat ankylosing spondylitis, which is a type of arthritis that affects the joints in the spine, and other painful conditions such as menstrual cramps. Diclofenac is also used to treat acute migraine attacks, with or without aura, in adults.
It will not prevent or lessen the number of migraine attacks. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health. Error Email field is required.
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