Pronunciation: dye-KLOE-fen-ak
Generic Name: Diclofenac
Brand Name: Pennsaid
Diclofenac Solution is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It may cause an increased risk of serious and sometimes fatal heart and blood vessel problems (eg, a heart attack, stroke). The risk may be greater if you already have heart problems or if you use Diclofenac Solution for a long time. Do not use Diclofenac Solution right before or after bypass heart surgery.
Diclofenac Solution may cause an increased risk of serious and sometimes fatal stomach ulcers and bleeding. Elderly patients may be at greater risk. This may occur without warning signs.
Diclofenac Solution is used for:
Treating pain in the knee joints caused by osteoarthritis. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Diclofenac Solution is an NSAID. Exactly how it works is not known. It may work by blocking certain substances in the body that are linked to inflammation. NSAIDs treat the symptoms of pain and inflammation. They do not treat the disease that causes those symptoms.
Do NOT use Diclofenac Solution if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Diclofenac Solution
- you have had a severe allergic reaction (eg, severe rash, hives, trouble breathing, growths in the nose, dizziness) to aspirin or another NSAID (eg, celecoxib, ibuprofen)
- you have recently had or will be having bypass heart surgery
- you have severe kidney problems
- you are in the last 3 months of pregnancy
- you are taking disulfiram or metronidazole
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Diclofenac Solution:
Some medical conditions may interact with Diclofenac Solution. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have a history of kidney or liver problems, diabetes, or stomach or bowel problems (eg, bleeding, perforation, ulcers)
- if you have a history of swelling or fluid buildup, asthma, growths in the nose (nasal polyps), or mouth inflammation
- if you have high blood pressure, blood disorders (eg, porphyria), bone marrow problems, bleeding or clotting problems, heart problems (eg, heart failure), or blood vessel disease, or if you are at risk of any of these diseases
- if you have poor health, dehydration or low fluid volume, low blood sodium levels, you drink alcohol, or you have a history of alcohol abuse
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Diclofenac Solution. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), aspirin, clopidogrel, corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), direct factor Xa inhibitors (eg, rivaroxaban), heparin, prasugrel, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (eg, fluoxetine) because the risk of bleeding, including stomach bleeding, may be increased
- Disulfiram, furazolidone, or metronidazole because a severe reaction that includes flushing, headache, fast or irregular heartbeat, trouble breathing, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness may occur
- Azole antifungals (eg, itraconazole, voriconazole), bisphosphonates (eg, risedronate), or probenecid because they may increase the risk of Diclofenac Solution's side effects
- Rifamycins (eg, rifampin) because they may decrease Diclofenac Solution's effectiveness
- Cyclosporine, lithium, methotrexate, oral NSAIDs (eg, ibuprofen), quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin), or tenofovir because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Diclofenac Solution
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (eg, enalapril) or diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Diclofenac Solution
- Medicines that may harm the liver (eg, acetaminophen, ketoconazole, isoniazid, certain medicines for HIV infection, certain antibiotics or seizure medicines) because the risk of liver side effects may be increased. Ask your doctor if you are unsure if any of your medicines might harm the liver
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Diclofenac Solution may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Diclofenac Solution:
Use Diclofenac Solution as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Diclofenac Solution comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it again each time you get Diclofenac Solution refilled.
- Do not apply Diclofenac Solution to infected skin; open wounds; or red, swollen, or peeling skin.
- Wash your hands immediately before and after using Diclofenac Solution.
- Wash the affected area and dry completely before using Diclofenac Solution.
- To apply Diclofenac Solution, dispense 10 drops at a time onto the knee or into your hand. Spread Diclofenac Solution evenly around the front, back, and sides of the knee. Repeat until you have used the whole dose.
- Be sure that you cover your entire knee with your dose of Diclofenac Solution. Do not use more than the recommended amount.
- Do not apply sunscreens, cosmetics, insect repellants, other topical medicines, or any other substance to the treated area until it is completely dry.
- Do not put on clothes over the treated area until it is completely dry.
- Do not wrap, bandage, or apply heat to the treated area.
- Do not shower, bathe, or wash the treated area for at least 30 minutes after you use Diclofenac Solution.
- If you miss a dose of Diclofenac Solution, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Diclofenac Solution.
Important safety information:
- Diclofenac Solution may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Diclofenac Solution with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- Diclofenac Solution is for external use only. Do not get it in your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you get it in any of these areas, rinse right away with cool water.
- Serious stomach ulcers or bleeding can occur with the use of Diclofenac Solution. Taking it in high doses or for a long time, smoking, or drinking alcohol increases the risk of these side effects. Taking Diclofenac Solution with food will NOT reduce the risk of these effects. Contact your doctor or emergency room at once if you develop severe stomach or back pain; black, tarry stools; vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds; or unusual weight gain or swelling.
- Do NOT use more than the recommended dose or use for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor.
- Diclofenac Solution is an NSAID. Before you start any new medicine, check the label to see if it has an NSAID (eg, ibuprofen) in it too. If it does or if you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
- Do not take aspirin while you are using Diclofenac Solution unless your doctor tells you to.
- Do not expose the treated area to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths.
- Diclofenac Solution may cause harm if it is swallowed. If you may have taken it by mouth, contact your poison control center or emergency room right away.
- Lab tests, including kidney and liver function, blood electrolyte levels, complete blood cell counts, and blood pressure, may be performed while you use Diclofenac Solution. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Use Diclofenac Solution with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially stomach bleeding and kidney problems.
- Diclofenac Solution should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Diclofenac Solution may cause harm to the fetus. Do not use it during the last 3 months of pregnancy. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Diclofenac Solution while you are pregnant. It is not known if Diclofenac Solution is found in breast milk after topical use. Do not breast-feed while taking Diclofenac Solution.
Possible side effects of Diclofenac Solution:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Constipation; diarrhea; dry skin or mild irritation at the application site; gas; nausea; stomach upset.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; trouble breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bloody or black, tarry stools; burning, numbness, or tingling of the skin; change in the amount of urine produced; chest pain; confusion; depression; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; mental or mood changes; numbness of an arm or leg; one-sided weakness; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; ringing in the ears; seizures; severe headache or dizziness; severe or persistent irritation at the application site; severe or persistent stomach pain or nausea; severe vomiting or diarrhea; shortness of breath; sudden or unexplained weight gain; swelling of the hands, legs, or feet; symptoms of liver problems (eg, dark urine, pale stools, persistent loss of appetite, yellowing of the skin or eyes, stomach pain, diarrhea); unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual joint or muscle pain; unusual tiredness or weakness; vision or speech changes; vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include decreased urination; loss of consciousness; seizures; severe dizziness or drowsiness; severe nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain; slow or troubled breathing; tremor; unusual bleeding or bruising; vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
Proper storage of Diclofenac Solution:
Store Diclofenac Solution at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Diclofenac Solution out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Diclofenac Solution, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Diclofenac Solution is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Diclofenac Solution. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Diclofenac resources
- Diclofenac Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Diclofenac Drug Interactions
- Diclofenac Support Group
- 83 Reviews for Diclofenac - Add your own review/rating
Compare Diclofenac with other medications
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- Osteoarthritis
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