Drug name: Diclofenac

Active Ingredients:

• Diclofenac

Therapeutic effect of Diclofenac: Diclofenac is classified as a NSAID with inflammation treating, pain reducing and fever controlling properties. Diclofenac works by controlling Cyclooxygenase-1 and Cyclooxygenase-2 which is essential for the synthesis of bad fatty acids like arachidonic acid. By controlling arachidonic acid this drug inhibits the formation of prostaglandins, which is responsible for the inflammation and pain. Thus Diclofenac reduces the pain and inflammation of the affected area.

Indications: Diclofenac is used for the treatment of diseases of musculoskeletal system like:

• Soft tissue rheumatic syndromes
• Podagric arthritis
• Arthritis psoriatica
• Inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues
• And other forms of arthritis

The drug is also used in treatment of pain syndrome of low or mild intensity:

• Pain after surgery
• Mialgia
• Sharp, shocking pain that follows the path of a nerve which is due to irritation or damage to the nerve (Neuralgia)

Precautions and Restrictions: Please avoid Diclofenac if you have the following conditions:

• Rectal pain
• Painful, swollen veins in the lower portion of the rectum or anus
• Bleeding of the rectum
• Hemostasis dysfunction
• Changes in hematosis
• Asthma caused due to aspirin
• Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
• Erosive-ulcerative affection of digestive channel
• Pregnancy
• Lactation
• Children below the age of 15
• Highly sensitive to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Use Diclofenac with caution if you have the following:

• Low amount of red blood cells
• Swelling in the airways of the lungs
• Certain types of heart disorders
• High blood pressure
• NERDS syndrome
• Kidney and liver diseases
• Alcohol dependence
• Diabetes
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• After vast surgery
• Aging
• Small, bulging sacs or pouches of the inner lining of the intestine
• Connective tissue diseases

Side effects of Diclofenac: While using Diclofenac there is always a distant possibility of some kind of adverse effects that are wholly or partly unintended. The side effects stated do not always manifest themselves and there are no prior proven records of such effects being caused by Diclofenac.

Some of the adverse effects that may occur when using Diclofenac are:

• Various gastrointestinal disorders like dryness of mouth, vomiting, nausea, jaundice, constipation, bleeding, peptic ulcers, cirrhosis, liver necrosis, colitis, pancreatitis, diarrhea, stomach ache, gases
• Disorders related to central nervous system like depression, aseptic meningitis, fear, disorientation, fatigue, dizziness, headache
• Change in hearing, taste, and vision
• Tinnitus
• Skin rashes and itching
• Renal failure, fluid retention, nephrotic syndrome and other renal disorders
• Thrombocitopenia, leukopenia, Anemia, and other similar disorders
• Respiratory system related disorders
• Heart attack, angina, hypertension and other cardiovascular disorders
• Various allergic reactions like itching, swelling, allergic vasculitis, anaphylactic shock
• Irritation in the mucous membrane of the rectum, Blood in the stool, etc

These are just some of the side effects and this is by no means an exhaustive list of adverse effects caused by Diclofenac. For more information kindly consult your physician, pharmacist or see the leaflet provided by manufacturer.

Interactions: Before taking Diclofenac it's very important to consult a doctor and apprise him of the treatments or medications you are currently taking and also get a prescription from your doctor before starting any new drug to make sure that the combination of the two drugs is safe. Some of the medicines with which Diclofenac may react are:

• Ethanol
• Gold preparations
• Blood thinners
• Medicines that induce sleep
• Drugs used to treat high blood pressure
• Paracetamol
• Other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Antibiotics
• Lithium preparations
• Medicines that promote the formation of urine by kidney

Additional Information: Medicines and certain medical equipments should not be used without prior approval of a doctor and don't share these drugs with anybody else. Diclofenac is made for specific conditions and it's not advisable to use it for other purposes. Keep medicinal drugs, needles, syringes and other such medical substances out of the reach of children.