Voltaren

Voltaren

Generic Name: diclofenac (dye KLOE fen ak)

Brand Names: Cataflam, Voltaren, Voltaren-XR, Zipsor

What is the most important information I should know about Voltaren?

This medicine can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the longer you use Voltaren. Do not use this medicine just before or after having heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).

Seek emergency medical help if you have symptoms of heart or circulation problems, such as chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, or problems with vision or balance.

This medicine can also increase your risk of serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and gastrointestinal effects can occur without warning at any time while you are taking Voltaren. Older adults may have an even greater risk of these serious gastrointestinal side effects.

Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of bleeding in your stomach or intestines. This includes black, bloody, or tarry stools, or coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or pain medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Many medicines available over the counter contain aspirin or other medicines similar to Voltaren (such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen). If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of this type of medication. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen.

Do not drink alcohol while taking Voltaren. Alcohol can increase the risk of stomach bleeding caused by Voltaren.

What is Voltaren?

Voltaren is in a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Voltaren works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body.

Voltaren is used to treat pain or inflammation caused by arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis.

Voltaren may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Voltaren?

Taking an NSAID can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the longer you use an NSAID. Do not use this medicine just before or after having heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).

NSAIDs can also increase your risk of serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and gastrointestinal effects can occur without warning at any time while you are taking an NSAID. Older adults may have an even greater risk of these serious gastrointestinal side effects.

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to Voltaren, or if you have a history of allergic reaction to aspirin or other NSAIDs.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Voltaren:

a history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot;

heart disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure;

a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding;

liver or kidney disease,

asthma;

polyps in your nose;

a bleeding or blood clotting disorder; or

if you smoke.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Taking Voltaren during the last 3 months of pregnancy may harm the unborn baby. Do not take Voltaren during pregnancy unless your doctor has told you to. Diclofenac can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give this medicine to a child without the advice of a doctor.

See also: Voltaren pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

How should I take Voltaren?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

If you switch brands of Voltaren, your dose needs may change. Follow your doctors instructions about how much medicine to take.

Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

If you take Voltaren for a long period of time, your liver function may need to be checked with blood tests on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Store Voltaren at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a Voltaren overdose may include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, drowsiness, black or bloody stools, coughing up blood, shallow breathing, fainting, or coma.

What should I avoid while taking Voltaren?

Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or pain medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Many medicines available over the counter contain aspirin or other medicines similar to Voltaren (such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen). If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of this type of medication. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen.

Do not drink alcohol while taking Voltaren. Alcohol can increase the risk of stomach bleeding caused by Voltaren. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Voltaren may increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable.

What are the possible side effects of Voltaren?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop taking Voltaren and seek medical attention or call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;

black, bloody, or tarry stools;

coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

swelling or rapid weight gain, urinating less than usual or not at all;

nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;

bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; or

neck stiffness, chills, increased sensitivity to light, purple spots on the skin, and/or seizure (convulsions).

Less serious Voltaren side effects may include:

upset stomach, mild heartburn or stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas;

dizziness, headache, nervousness;

skin itching or rash;

blurred vision; or

ringing in your ears.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Voltaren side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Voltaren?

Tell your doctor if you are taking an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor). Taking any of these drugs with Voltaren may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.

Before taking Voltaren, tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);

cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune);

lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);

methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);

diuretics (water pills) such as furosemide (Lasix).

steroids (prednisone and others);

aspirin or other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin (Indocin), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and others; or

an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), and others.

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with diclofenac. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

More Voltaren resources

Voltaren Side Effects (in More Detail)

Voltaren Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Drug Images

Voltaren Drug Interactions

Voltaren Support Group

46 Reviews for Voltaren - Add your own review/rating

Voltaren Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

Voltaren Drops MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Voltaren Prescribing Information (FDA)

Diclofenac Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)

Diclofenac Prescribing Information (FDA)

Diclofenac MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Cambia Prescribing Information (FDA)

Cambia Powder Packets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Cataflam Prescribing Information (FDA)

Cataflam Immediate-Release Tablets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Zipsor Prescribing Information (FDA)

diclofenac epolamine Monograph (AHFS DI)

Compare Voltaren with other medications

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Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Voltaren.

What does my medication look like?

Diclofenac is available with a prescription under the brand names Cataflam and Voltaren. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

Cataflam 50 mg round, biconvex, light-brown tablets

Voltaren 25 mg triangular, biconvex, yellow tablets

Voltaren 50 mg triangular, biconvex, light-brown tablets

Voltaren 75 mg triangular, biconvex, light-pink tablets

Voltaren XR 100 mg round, biconvex, light-pink, coated tablets