Drug name: Naclofen
Other names used:
- Abitren®
- Cataflam®
- Modifenac®
- Naklofen®
- Rhumalgan®
- Voltaren®
Active Ingredients:
- Diclofenac sodium
Therapeutic effects of Naclofen: Naclofen is classified under the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. It's function is to reduce the amount of hormones that are responsible for inflammation and body aches.
Indications: Naclofen is applied to treat the following:
- Inflammation of one or more joints (arthritis), joint disorder caused by aging and wear and tear on a joint (osteoarthritis), and other rheumatic defeats of soft fabrics such as bursitis and tendovaginitis.
- A condition in which the pain radiated along the nerve paths due to inflammation of the spinal nerve roots. (radiculitis)
- Osteochondrosis of a backbone
- Sharp, shocking pain that follows the path of a nerve and is due to irritation or damage to the nerve (neuralgia)
- Muscle pain (myalgia)
- A posttraumatic inflammation of muscles, sinews, and ligaments
- Inflammatory hypostases of soft fabrics, morbidity of muscles and the joints, caused by heavy physical activities
Precautions and Restrictions: Taking medications under the classification of NSAIDs increases the risk of developing critical problems in the heart and the circulation system. Common examples of this are heart attack and stroke. The said risk increases together with the length of NSAID intake. To ensure safety, do not use Naclofen anytime before or after going through a heart bypass surgery also known as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).
NSAIDs can also post serious medical outcomes to one's stomach and intestines. Bleeding and hole formation, termed as perforation, are two of the conditions that may occur. These may produce various results including death. Gastronomical effects can take place at anytime during your NSAID use. The severity of the said gastronomical side effects may be greater for older adults. Avoid this drug if you have allergic reactions to Naclofen, aspirin and other NSAIDs.
If you experience the below mentioned conditions then talk to a doctor before taking this medicine:
- If you have a personal history of blood clots, stroke, and heart attack
- If you suffer from any heart related ailment such as Heart Failure or Hypertension
- If you have a personal history of peptic ulcer or bleeding in the stomach
- If you suffer from any disorder of liver or kidney
- Asthma
- Nasal polyps
- If you have blood clot or bleeding disorder
- If you smoke
Users with the above mentioned conditions can use this medicine after consulting with a doctor who may recommend a dosage change or special monitoring and examination during the treatment.
Naclofen is placed in Pregnancy Category C by the FDA, so they may be harmful to the foetus. Before using this medicine consult a doctor about taking this medicine if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the near future. Use of Naclofen during the first three months of becoming pregnant may result in birth defects. Never use this medicine during pregnancy unless advised by a trained medical care provider.
Similarly, Naclofen may pass into mother's milk and thereby harm the nursing baby, so never use this medicine before consulting a doctor.
Use of this medicine on children without a clear prescription from a doctor is strictly discouraged.
Side effects of Naclofen: Users of Naclofen may experience adverse effects that are wholly unexpected. These side effects are only a distant possibility and there is no prior proven records of such effects due to use of Naclofen or it has not been proven that everyone using this medicine will show the bellow mentioned effects.
- Loss of balance, problems with sight and speech, breathing difficulty, weakness, and pain in the chest
- Dark, bloody stools
- Coughing blood
- Vomiting
- Sudden increase in weight
- Decreased urination or no urination
- Jaundice, dark urine, poor appetite or appetite loss, low fever, pain in the abdomen, and urge to vomit
- Rashes, peeling of skin, skin blisters, headache, sore throat, and fever
- Myasthenia, pain in the muscles, tingling sensation, and bruising
- Convulsions, reddening of skin, photosensitivity, stiff neck, and chills
If you experience any of the below mentioned less than serious side effects then you can continue using this medicine but it's better to talk to a doctor about your reactions:
- Constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, mild pyrosis, dyspepsia
- Belching
- Nervousness, cephalalgia, and lightheadedness
- Rashes and itching
- Problems with sight
- Tinnitus
These are just some of the side effects and these are by no means an exhaustive list of adverse effects caused due to Naclofen. For more information kindly consult your physician, pharmacist, or read the full details presented by the manufacturer.
Interactions: It is advisable to consult a doctor before taking Naclofen. Apprise him of the treatment or medication you are currently under and also get a prescription from your doctor before starting any new drug. This is to make sure that the combination of the two drugs is safe.
- Do not take Naclofen with any medicine which contains aspirin or ingredients similar to Naclofen, as it may increase the effectiveness of this medicine.
- Avoid using alcohol with this medicine as it may enhance the risk of stomach bleeding.
- Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight as it may cause sun allergy. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable.
