Diclofenac
- TRADE NAMES: Allvoran; Apo-Diclo; Arthrotec (Pfizer); Cambia; Cataflam (Novartis); Dicolmax (Galen); Dyloject; Fenac; Flector Patch; Galedol; Liroken; Monoflam; Motifene (Daiichi Sankyo); Nu-Diclo; Pennsaid (Mallinckrodt); Remethan; Solaraze Gel (Nycomed); Taks; Voltaren (Novartis); Voltarene; Voltarol (Novartis); Zipsor (Depomed); Zorvolex
- INDICATIONS: Rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, topical treatment of actinic keratosis; postoperative inflammation in patients who have undergone cataract extraction and for the temporary relief of pain and photophobia in patients undergoing corneal refractive surgery
- CLASS: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID)
- HALF-LIFE: 1–2 hours
ACE inhibitors, Adrenergic neurone blockers, Aldosterone antagonists, Aliskiren, Alpha blockers, Angiotensin II receptor antagonists, Anticoagulants, Aspirin, Baclofen, Beta blockers, Calcium channel blockers, Cardiac glycosides, Clonidine, Clopidogrel, Corticosteroids, Coumarins, Cyclosporine, Dabigatran, Deferiprone, Diazoxide, Diuretics, Enoxaparin, Erlotinib, Furosemide, Heparins, Hydralazine, Iloprost, Ketorolac, Lithium, Methotrexate, Methyldopa, Mifamurtide, Minoxidil, Moxonidine, Nitrates, Nitroprusside, Penicillamine, Pentoxifylline, Phenindione, Potassium canrenoate, Prasugrel, Rifampin, Ritonavir, Rivaroxaban, SSRIs, Sulfonylureas, Tacrolimus, Thiazides, Tinzaparin, Venlafaxine, Voriconazole, Warfarin, Zidovudine
PREGNANCY CATEGORY: D
category B for topical use; category C for oral and ophthalmic use; category D in third trimester.
NSAIDs may cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular and gastrointestinal adverse events, which can be fatal. This risk may increase with duration of use.
Contra-indicated in patients who have experienced asthma, urticaria, or allergic-type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs. Severe, rarely fatal, anaphylactic-like reactions to NSAIDs have been reported in such patients.
Arthrotec is diclofenac and misoprostol.
See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.
Please login to see the rest of this drug profile
Click on the DRUG REVIEW ARTICLE tab (above) to see a review of low-dose diclofenac in the Taylor & Francis journal Expert Opinion on Drug Safety. (Note that non-subscribers to the journal will only be able to see an abstract of the article.)
Page last updated 07/31/2023
Symbol key
Incidence 
- <1%
- 1-5%
- 5-10%
- 10-15%
- 15-20%
- 20-30%
- >30%
Seriousness
- Hospitalization possible
- Life threatening
- Fatal
Warnings in other populations
- Breast feeding
- Geriatric
- Pediatric
