Get Informed: Diclofenac

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Patient Comments about
Diclofenac

Active Ingredient(s)

Diclofenac

What does it do?

Diclofenac

This product is used primarily in the treatment of arthritis. It is in the family of NSAIDs, and its mechanism of action is unknown.

Last Text Update:
 2009-Nov-06 9:54 AM
Last Data Update:
 2009-Nov-07 8:28 AM

Other Names

  • Cataflam
  • Diclofen
  • Diclofenac
  • Diclofenac NA
  • Diclofenac Sodium
  • Divon
  • Effekton
  • Flector
  • Flexagen
  • Remafen
  • Veltex
  • Voltaren
  • Voltaren-XR

How Safe Is It?

Your Risk Rating
Please log in
Average Risk Rating
2: General
Pregnancy Category:
C

Black Box Warning

This product has a black box warning related to potentially fatal cardiac and GI events including MI and strokes, bleeding or perforation of the intestines.

Facts & Figures

Date Approved
28 Jul 1988
Est US Patients*
790,700
Generic Available
Yes
OTC Available
No

User Age Distribution*

8

< 21

0

21-39

1

40-59

91

60+

Age (Years)

* Estimated number of US people currently taking Diclofenac or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.

Other Resources

Recent alerts for Diclofenac

There have been no alerts regarding Diclofenac during the past year.

Diclofenac Safety Report

2: General

The iGuard risk rating for Diclofenac is blue. It means that Diclofenac normally has a low risk of serious or long-term side effects if used under normal medical supervision.

Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings

  • Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Diclofenac interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.

What is Diclofenac used for?

iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 4,500 patients that use Diclofenac (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.

Disease / Condition % Average Severity
Osteoarthritis 42% 5
Pain 15% 5
Back / Neck Pain 8% 5
Rheumatoid Arthritis 6% 5
Edema (Fluid Retention) 6% 5
Pain-Musculoskeletal 3% 5
Fibromyalgia 2% 5
High Blood Pressure 2% 5
Other 24% 5

How well does Diclofenac work?

iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 4,500 users taking Diclofenac (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.

Average Satisfaction Score

(out of 10)

Average Effectiveness Score

(out of 10)

63 63
67%
of patients are confident that the good things about Diclofenac outweigh the bad things.
20%
of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Diclofenac.

Common Side Effects of Diclofenac

iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 4,500 users taking Diclofenac (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.

41%

41% of patients experience side-effects on Diclofenac

3%

3% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Diclofenac


Most Common Side Effects...

  • 10% Heartburn/Reflux
  • 5% Abdominal Pain
  • 5% Nausea
  • 5% Weight Gain
  • 5% Fatigue
  • = 10%

Less than 1%: Altered Taste, Dizziness, Dry Mouth, Grogginess/Confusion, Increased Urinary Frequency, Insomnia, Itch, Kidney Problems, Mouth Sores, Muscle Pain, Occassional Bowel Problems and Swelling


Global Patient Feedback for Diclofenac ( Post a comment )

Comments, Questions, and Answers
Show Newest | Oldest first

Question/Comment:

I have been taking diclofenac 75 mg twice daily for a while and now experience dry mouth, little mouth blisters on interor of lips and tongue and very dry and chapped lips. Any connection here?

66 year old Female

Posted: 2009-10-29 21:25:51

iGuard.org Answer/Reply:

Dry mouth is a side effect of diclofenac - however it is reported by just a small number of patients taking it. Please speak with your doctor about your symptoms, perhaps decreasing the dose may help to improve your symptoms. You can also ask your doctor about trying one of the products available for dry mouth such as Biotene or Salivart.

Posted: 2009-11-01 23:00:42

Question/Comment:

I have been taking this medicine for pain from a large kidney stone that won't pass. My Doc allowed me to take it because my protein levels had stabilized, but they say it is hard on the kidneys. It works great for about 2 hours and then the pain comes back. I've been experiencing dizziness and stopped taking it for a week and that seemed to be the problem. I still take it though.

56 year old Female

Posted: 2009-09-28 14:46:07

Question/Comment:

I have been taking this medication for 3 months now and it is wonderful. The swelling in my back has decreased to the point that I can move without every step causes severe pain.

45 year old Female

Posted: 2009-07-27 12:09:56

Question/Comment:

This medication was tried twice at different times and caused increased swelling of the legs, ankles and feet. Scared me so bad I stopped it when I realized what was happening. I couldn't understand why this was happening because I was taking Lasix twice daily. I no longer take this med and won't ever again.

45 year old Female

Posted: 2009-07-09 00:35:30

Answer/Reply:

I had taken this medication without any problems for several months, when I started experiencing swelling of the legs and ankles like the previous poster did. My doctor put me on Lasix. On my own I quit taking the Diclofenec because my back hadn't been bothering me as much. I noticed that if I do decide to take it when my back acts up my legs immediately swell. I'm thinking the diclofenic is what's causing it.

59 year old Female

Posted: 2009-08-21 17:02:10

Question/Comment:

I have taken Voltaren since 1994 I normally go through surgeries with out pain medication of any type. The Doctors could not believe that I went through bone graph surgery and the only thing I asked for was to be put back on my Voltaren!! Its the best!!

61 year old Male

Posted: 2009-07-02 23:27:29

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