Diclofenac

Also sold as: Voltaren, Voveran

Prescription neededAnti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs)

Comes as:TabletInjectionSuppositoryGel

Anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs)

Diclofenac

Also sold as: Voltaren, Voveran

Prescription neededAnti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs)

Comes as:TabletInjectionSuppositoryGel

Usual adult dose

Usual adult dose: 50 mg two or three times a day with or after food. Do not take more than 150 mg in 24 hours. Gel: rub a small amount on the painful area 3 to 4 times a day.

Your doctor may give you a different dose. Children's doses depend on weight.

Side effects

Common

stomach pain
heartburn
nausea
diarrhoea
headache
dizziness

Serious — get help

Stop taking it and see a doctor straight away if you notice:

black or bloody stools
vomiting blood
chest pain or sudden weakness of one side
yellow eyes or skin
severe allergic reaction

Do not take it, or take care, if

Stomach ulcer or stomach bleeding, now or before
Heart disease, previous heart attack or stroke
Severe kidney or liver disease
Asthma that gets worse with aspirin or similar painkillers
Last 3 months of pregnancy

Interactions

Medicines that can react with this one.

Serious2 medicinesDo not take these together unless your doctor says so.

Methotrexate
Can raise methotrexate levels and cause serious toxicity.
Warfarin
Raises the risk of serious stomach and other bleeding.

Moderate3 medicinesTake together only with care. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Enalapril
Can reduce the blood pressure effect and harm the kidneys.
Lithium carbonate
Can raise lithium levels in the blood; levels may need checking.
Tenofovir disoproxil
Regular or high-dose NSAIDs with tenofovir raise the risk of kidney damage.