What is diclofenac topical?
Diclofenac is in a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
It works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body.
Diclofenac topical skin patch (
Flector Patch
) is used to treat pain
caused by minor sprains, strains, or bruising.
Diclofenac topical 1% gel (
Voltaren Topical
) is used to treat joint pain
in the hands, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, or feet caused by osteoarthritis. This medication may
not be effective in treating arthritis pain elsewhere in the body.
Diclofenac topical 3% (
Solaraze
) gel is used to treat warty overgrowths
of skin (actinic keratoses) on sun-exposed areas of the body.
Diclofenac topical may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking diclofenac topical?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren),
aspirin, or an other NSAID. Do not use diclofenac topical just before or after having heart
bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).
While the risk of absorbing diclofenac topical into your bloodstream is low, all NSAIDs
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.
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 using an NSAID.
Older adults may have an even greater risk of these serious gastrointestinal side effects.
Before using diclofenac topical, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you
have:
-
a history of asthma or severe allergic reaction after taking aspirin
or any NSAID;
-
a history of stomach ulcer or bleeding;
-
liver disease;
-
kidney disease;
-
high blood pressure; or
-
congestive heart failure.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment
or special tests to safely use diclofenac topical.
This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are
pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Diclofenac topical 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.
How should I take diclofenac topical?
Use this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use it in larger amounts
or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
This medication may come with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow
these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Do not use diclofenac topical on an open skin wound, or on areas of eczema,
infection, skin rash, or burn injury. Wait until the condition has fully healed before using
diclofenac topical.
Do not cover the treated skin with a bandage or expose it to heat from a hot tub, heating
pad, sauna, or heated water bed. Heat or bandaging can increase the amount of drug you absorb
through your skin and may cause harmful effects.
Wash your hands after applying this medication, unless you are treating the skin on
your hands. Do not wear gloves for at least 10 minutes after applying diclofenac topical gel to
the hands.
After you apply diclofenac topical gel, wait at least 10 minutes before dressing. Do not
bathe or shower for at least 1 hour after applying diclofenac topical gel.
To treat
actinic keratosis (with Solaraze)
: Apply enough gel to cover
each lesion and rub in gently. You may need to use the medication for up to 90 days. Follow
your doctor's instructions.
Do not apply Solaraze gel more than 2 times daily and never use more than your
prescribed dose.
To treat
osteoarthritis pain (with Voltaren Topical)
: This medicine is
supplied with dosing cards that show you how much gel to use for a 2-gram dose or a 4-gram
dose. Squeeze the gel onto this card along the line for your dose. Use no more gel than will fit
on the length of your dosing line. Wipe the card directly onto the treatment area and rub gently
into the skin. Each dosing card is for only one use.
Always use a dosing card to measure your Voltaren Topical dose. Fold the card and
throw it away in a place where children and pets cannot get to it. A used dosing card will still
have a small amount of diclofenac gel on it.
To treat arthritis pain in the foot, spread the gel out onto all areas of the foot including the
toes and soles. When treating the hand, spread the gel out onto all areas of the hand including the
fingers and palms.
When treating osteoarthritis, keep using any oral medications your doctor has prescribed.
To treat
minor pain (with Flector skin patch)
: Apply the skin patch
directly to the area of pain. The skin patch can be worn for up to 12 hours and then removed.
Apply a new patch at that time if pain continues. Do not wear a skin patch while taking a bath or
shower or while swimming.
If the patch falls off, try sticking it back on, or use medical tape to hold it on.
After removing a skin patch fold it in half, sticky side in, and throw it away in a place
where children or pets cannot get to it. Keep both used and unused diclofenac topical patches out
of the reach of children or pets.
Store diclofenac topical at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not
take a skin patch out of the patch envelope until you are ready to use it. Reseal the envelope for
storage.
What happens if I miss a dose of diclofenac topical?
Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose,
wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose.
Do not
use extra
medicine to make up the missed dose. Do not wear a diclofenac skin patch for longer than 12
hours.
Where can I get more information about diclofenac topical?
Your pharmacist has information about diclofenac topical written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of diclofenac topical?
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.
Although the risk of serious side effects is low when diclofenac is applied to the skin, you
should be aware of side effects that can occur if the medication is absorbed into your
bloodstream.
Stop using this medication and 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; or
-
bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness.
Less serious side effects may include:
-
dryness or itching of treated skin;
-
peeling or scaling of treated skin; or
-
fever, chills, sore throat, body aches or other flu symptoms.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about diclofenac topical?
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you
have a history of stomach ulcer or bleeding, liver or kidney disease, high blood pressure, or
congestive heart failure.
Do not use cosmetics, sunscreen, lotions, insect repellant, or other medicated skin
products not prescribed by your doctor. These products may interfere with diclofenac topical, or
increase skin irritation.
Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds) while
you are using diclofenac topical.
While the risk of absorbing diclofenac topical into your bloodstream is low, all
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 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 diclofenac topical 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 using an NSAID.
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.
What should I avoid while taking diclofenac topical?
Do not use cosmetics, sunscreen, lotions, insect repellant, or other medicated skin
products not prescribed by your doctor. These products may interfere with diclofenac topical, or
increase skin irritation.
Avoid getting this medication in your mouth or eyes. If it does get into any of these
areas, rinse with water.
Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds) while
you are using diclofenac topical.
While you are using diclofenac topical, avoid taking oral (pill form) of aspirin or NSAIDs
such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren),
diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin),
ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic),
nabumetone (Relafen), piroxicam (Feldene), and others.
What other drugs will affect diclofenac topical?
Before using diclofenac topical, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following
drugs:
-
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
-
cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune);
-
lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
-
methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);
-
a diuretic (water pills);
-
steroids (prednisone and others); or
-
an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril
(Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), and others.
It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an
effect on topically applied diclofenac. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell your
doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal
products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling
your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of diclofenac topical?