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Overview
Voltaren is a pain reliever used for arthritis. It belongs to a class of
medications commonly called NSAIDs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Other medicines in this category include over-the-counter analgesics
like aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, etc.) and naproxen (Aleve) as well as
prescription arthritis pills such as Lodine, Naprosyn or Relafen.
Side Effects and Interactions
Unquestionably the most common side effects of
Voltaren involve the gastrointestinal tract. They include nausea, indigestion,
heartburn, cramps, gas, constipation, and diarrhea.
Some people may
develop ulcers and intestinal bleeding while taking Voltaren. Occasionally these
problems can occur without obvious symptoms and lead to a life-threatening
crisis due to perforation of the stomach lining.
Older people appear to
be more susceptible to this problem and should be monitored carefully.
Warning signs include weight loss, persistent indigestion, a feeling of
fullness after moderate meals, dark or tarry stools, anemia and unusual fatigue.
Home stool tests such as Hemoccult or Fleet Detecatest may provide an early
indication of bleeding.
Other side effects to be alert for include
headache, ringing in the ears, rash, itching, and fluid retention.
Drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, difficulty concentrating, and
confusion are possible, so do not drive if you become impaired.
Less
common adverse reactions include jitteriness, insomnia, difficulty breathing,
hair loss, depression, changes in appetite, hearing loss, visual disturbances,
sores in the mouth and heart palpitations. Report any symptoms to your physician
promptly.
Voltaren can affect both the kidney and liver, so periodic
blood tests to monitor the function of these organs are important.
Some
people become sensitive to sunlight while on Voltaren, so use an effective
sunscreen, stay covered or avoid the sun.
This medication can interact
with many other drugs including aspirin, alcohol, certain blood pressure pills,
and the ulcer medicine Pepcid.
A person taking a blood thinner like Coumadin
may become more vulnerable to a dangerous bleeding ulcer.
All the
NSAIDs, including Voltaren, can make methotrexate (Folex, Mexate, Rheumatrex),
lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, etc.) and Lanoxin
far more toxic.
When Voltaren is combined with Sandimmune the risk of
kidney damage is increased.
Because of a possible risk of hemmorhage, we
advise against combining
ginkgo biloba extract with this medicine.
Check with your pharmacist and
physician to make sure Voltaren is safe in combination with any other drugs you
take.
Special Precautions
People who are allergic to aspirin or other anti-inflammatory agents should avoid Voltaren.
Signs of allergy include breathing difficulties, rash, fever, or a sudden drop in blood pressure and require immediate medical attention.
Taking the Medicine
Because Voltaren can be hard on the digestive tract, it may be taken with food to reduce tummy trouble. This does not, however, guarantee that the drug will be safe for the stomach.
Did this drug work? Average rating: 2.5/5 (27 votes)
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If you have more to say, post a comment below!
While taking this medicine I kept having ringing in the ears and upset stomachs every day, i also started wetting the bed, which my doctor told me was to do with this medication. This is not listed as one of the side effects. I've had to stop taking them now, and have been taking other treatment for my arthritis.
I just heard about Voltaren Gel. Do the same side effects relate to the gel also? Where can I find out about Voltaren Gel?
My husband just started to take Diclofenac-K or Novo-Difenac-K (there were two names on his pill bottle). After 3 days he fell very ill with nausea and cramping and water in his lungs. He stopped taking it, and is feeling way better today. It was for his swollen hands with arthritis. He can't take Morphine or menthotreksan either.
Was wondering does this new pill have these compounds in it? I can't seem to get a straight answer from the pharmacy people. His doctor is a country doctor and not up on these pills. He looked it up in his book and said well give it a try and see. Well we now know this drug is not good for him.
I would like to know what drug he could take and feel better on. He had a heart stint put in his artery and they say he is ok as far as the heart goes. Just so much pain and swelling in his arms, shoulder and radiates to his hands.
He is soon to be 75 years in Sept and we are on a low pension. These pill prices are somewhat high for us just to experiment with and get no results. Hoping you can tell us something about these pills and maybe know of a better one and a safer one for him. Celebrex doesn't work either. He has tried a lot of them in these past years. I forget most of them. Thank you Elaine
I have been taking diclofenac sodium for my arthritis pain for about 6 months. It has been working with little noticeable side effects. But now I'm wondering if my hair loss is connected. My hair has never been extremely thick, but it is now thinning noticeably.
It is not patchy but overall thinning---and now when I read the side effects, I am also starting to worry that it might also be silently working on my stomach problem. I take nexium 40mg daily for GERD. Might the diclofenac be working on my stomach lining without my knowing it? It is already touchy because of past overdosing of Ibuprofen and naproxen (also for the pain of my erosive osteoarthritis).
I would like to know if there is anything I can take for the pain that is not going to hurt my health over time. I cannot take codeine, sulfa, and I react with high blood pressure to naproxen. I have tried mobic and a few other pain relievers and they just didn't work. I took vioxx when it was on the market and it worked well for me. I do not have heart problems other than high cholesterol witch I take lovastatin for.
Is there anything that I can suggest to my doctor to prescribe? There are so many drugs out there and he is a general practitioner, he is good but with so many out there and new medicines every day; please help!
Thanks, Susan
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: DICLOFENAC COULD INDEED BE CAUSING STOMACH IRRITATION. PLEASE TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT THIS. YOU MIGHT ASK HIM ABOUT SALSALATE, WHICH IS AN OLD DRUG BUT NOT WELL KNOWN AND MUCH LESS LIKELY TO CAUSE IRRITATION.
I've been taking Diclofenac sodium an co-dydramol for the last 4 months following the birth of my baby.
In the last 6 weeks I've lost about a third of my hair from all over thinning. I know that hair loss loss is common after pregnancy, but the rate in which it is falling out will mean that in a few months I will be wearing a wig!
Has anyone heard or experienced the same on these medications??
I too have extreme hair loss after taking Diclofanac for 3 months. It is not working for me either so I will have my new doc switch drugs or take nothing.
I also experienced extreme hair loss after taking Diclofanac for 4 months. A general thinning all over. I've stopped taking this drug for 1 month and have noticed less hair in my brush and sink!
Will not enteric coating obviate the stomach irritation? How much does diclofenac (enteric coated) cost on lin? aw
I started taking diclofenac sodium EC in June 2011 in September of the same year I began to experience massive hair loss as general thinning. The drug worked very well on my arthritis but I'm not sure about the trade off. I have started to reduce my dosage from 2 tabs a day to 1 and will continue to reduce the dosage further.
I have taken about 5 tablets of Diclofenac, and have been getting muscle pain and cramps practically every night. I had heel pain, and the Dr. prescribed, this med. wondering if anyone else experience muscle spasm and pain in leg calf. I have notice upset stomach, and feeling of nausea. The discomfort I feel with this med, is worse then the heel pain.....
I will discontinue...
I have been on and off Diclofenac (voltaren) for 6 months now, I too have experienced massive hai rloss. I have for the time being stopped take the pill, because of no need.
My question is: Now as I am off the pill, will my hair go back to normal? If yes, how much time will it take?
Thanks.
I hurt my knee in late September and was prescribed 75 mg Voltaren for the swelling. I took this drug approx. twice every two days depending on how sore my knee was, until early December when I found my hair was falling out in hand fulls. I immediately went back to my doctors, who in turn sent me to a skin specialist. Voltaren was the only drug I had been taking, except for HRT (Premarin 0.3 mg, which I had been on for over a year for menopause. The specialist did say it would grow back in up to a year.
By Christmas I had approx. half my hair, and by mid January I had lost all my hair. I have lost all hair on my body except a few eyelashes and my eyebrows are very thin at this stage.
I have went back to the skin specialist this morning, and he was astonished to see that I had lost all my hair, and said it looked as if I had been on anti cancer drugs. I have always had very thick hair, and am now wearing either wigs or hats to cover my scalp. It is just beginning to start growing again and would be no more than an eighth of an inch in growth.
This afternoon I am having an operation on my knee, which I wish I had done to start with and never taken voltaren.