Diclofenac is used to treat arthritis-related pain, swelling (inflammation), and joint stiffness. Reducing these symptoms allows you to participate in more of your daily activities. This substance is referred to as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (NSAID). Ask your doctor about non-drug therapy and/or utilising other medications to alleviate your pain if you have a chronic condition like arthritis. Also see the section on Caution.

Diclofenac Sodium: How to Use It

Before you start taking diclofenac, and every time you get a refill, read the Medication Guide issued by your pharmacist. Inquire with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, take this medication by mouth with a full glass of water (8 ounces / 240 millilitres). After taking this medication, do not lie down for at least 10 minutes. If you have stomach problems while taking this drug, take it with food, milk, or an antacid. However, if you are not taking this drug on a regular basis, this may limit absorption and postpone pain relief.

This drug should be swallowed whole. The tablets should not be crushed, chewed, or broken. As a result, the environment may be harmed.
The dosage is determined by your medical condition, treatment response, and any other medications you’re taking. Make a list of all the products you use and give it to your doctor and pharmacist (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). Use this drug at the lowest effective dose for the shortest time possible to reduce the risk of side effects (such as stomach bleeding).

Do not take it in higher doses or more frequently than suggested. Continue to take it as prescribed by your doctor if you have a persistent illness like arthritis. Consult your doctor or pharmacist about the dangers and advantages.

It may take up to 2 weeks of consistent treatment for certain illnesses (such as arthritis) before the full advantages of this medicine become apparent.

If I miss the dose or take an overdose

Doses are based on height, age, medical condition, laboratory test results, and reaction to treatment.

If you miss the dose

Take immediately after when you remember. If it is almost time for the second dose skip the first dose. Do not take two doses at a time.

If you overdose yourself

Seek emergency medical attention call at 108

Side effects of diclofenac

Remember that your doctor provided this medication because he or she believes the benefit to you outweighs the risk of adverse effects. The majority of people who take this medicine do not have any substantial adverse effects.

This drug has the potential to elevate your blood pressure. Regularly check your blood pressure and notify your doctor if the readings are too high.

If you have any of the following unlikely but significant side effects: ringing in the ears, mental/mood changes, difficult/painful swallowing, or symptoms of heart failure (such as swelling ankles/feet, unusual weariness, or unusual/sudden weight gain), contact your doctor straight once.

If any of the following rare but serious adverse effects occur, get medical attention right away: indications of renal disease (such as a change in urine output).
This medication has a small chance of causing serious (and perhaps fatal) liver damage. If you experience any symptoms of liver damage, such as dark urine, persistent nausea/vomiting/loss of appetite, stomach/abdominal discomfort, or yellowing eyes or skin, seek medical attention immediately once.

This medicine seldom causes a severe allergic reaction. If you detect any symptoms of a major allergic response, such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, rash, itching/swelling (particularly of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, or problems breathing, seek medical treatment right once.

This isn’t an exhaustive list of potential adverse effects. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any other side effects not listed above.

Drug interactions of diclofenac

Drug interactions can cause your prescriptions to perform differently or put you at risk for dangerous adverse effects. This list does not include all potential medication interactions.

Keep a list of everything you use (including prescription and nonprescription pharmaceuticals, as well as herbal products) and discuss it with your doctor and pharmacist. Without your doctor’s permission, do not start, stop, or modify the dosage of any medications.

When combined with other drugs that can cause bleeding, this medication can increase the risk of bleeding. Antiplatelet medications like clopidogrel, as well as “blood thinners” like dabigatran/enoxaparin/warfarin, are examples.

Because many drugs contain pain relievers/fever reducers, read all prescription and nonprescription pharmaceutical labels carefully (aspirin, NSAIDs such as celecoxib, ibuprofen, or ketorolac). These medicines are comparable to diclofenac and, if used combined, may raise your risk of negative effects.

If your doctor has prescribed low-dose aspirin to prevent a heart attack or stroke (typically 81-162 milligrammes per day), you should keep taking it unless your doctor tells you otherwise. For more information, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions for diclofenac

It’s critical that your doctor monitors your development on a frequent basis. This will help your doctor to determine whether the treatment is effective and whether you should continue to take it.Unwanted side effects may necessitate blood and urine tests.

This medication may increase your chances of a heart attack or stroke. This is more common among persons who have previously been diagnosed with heart disease or who have been taking this medication for a long time.
This medication may induce stomach or intestine bleeding. These issues might develop without warning. This is more likely if you’ve ever had a stomach ulcer, if you routinely smoke or drink alcohol, if you’re over 60 years old, if you’re in poor health, or if you’re on certain medications (eg, steroid medicine, blood thinner).

If you feel discomfort or tenderness in your upper stomach, pale faeces, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or yellow eyes or skin, see your doctor immediately once. These signs and symptoms could indicate a major liver disease.
During therapy with this medicine, serious skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, exfoliative dermatitis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and drug response with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) might occur.

If you have black, tarry stools, blistering, peeling, or loosening skin, chest pain, chills, cough, diarrhoea, fever, itching, joint or muscle pain, painful or difficult urination, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips, swollen glands, unusual bleeding, or unusual bleeding, see your doctor right away.
Aliskiren, ACE inhibitors (such as captopril, lisinopril), angiotensin II receptor blockers (such as valsartan, losartan), corticosteroids (such as prednisone), cidofovir, lithium, methotrexate, and “water pills” are some of the products that may interact with this medicine (diuretics such as furosemide).