Brand Names: Cambia, Cataflam, Voltaren, Voltaren-XR, Zipsor

Generic Name: diclofenac (Pronunciation: dye KLOE fen ak)

• What is diclofenac (Voltaren)?
• What are the possible side effects of diclofenac (Voltaren)?
• What is the most important information I should know about diclofenac (Voltaren)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking diclofenac (Voltaren)?
• How should I take diclofenac (Voltaren)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Voltaren)?
• What happens if I overdose (Voltaren)?
• What should I avoid while taking diclofenac (Voltaren)?
• What other drugs will affect diclofenac (Voltaren)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is diclofenac (Voltaren)?

Diclofenac is in a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Diclofenac works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body.

Diclofenac is used to treat pain or inflammation caused by arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis.

Diclofenac powder (Cambia) is used to treat a migraine headache attack. Do not use this medication to treat a cluster headache.

Cambia will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.

Diclofenac may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Cataflam 50 mg

round, beige, imprinted with CATAFLAM, 50

Diclofenac 100 mg ER-TEV

round, pink, imprinted with 93, 1041

Diclofenac 50 mg-GG

round, brown, imprinted with GG 759

Diclofenac 75 mg-GG

round, peach, imprinted with GG 739

Diclofenac Potassium 50 mg-APO

round, brown, imprinted with APO, DP 50

Diclofenac Potassium 50 mg-MYL

round, white, imprinted with M D5

Diclofenac Potassium 50 mg-TEV

round, orange, imprinted with 93 948

Diclofenac Sodium 100 mg ER-MYL

round, yellow, imprinted with M 355

Diclofenac Sodium 100 mg-WAT

round, pink, imprinted with DX41

Diclofenac Sodium 25 mg-GG

round, yellow, imprinted with GG 737

Diclofenac Sodium 50 mg-ROX

round, white, imprinted with 54 592

Diclofenac Sodium 50 mg-WAT

round, white, imprinted with WATSON 338

Diclofenac Sodium 75 mg-WAT

round, white, imprinted with WATSON 339

Diclofenac XR 100 mg-GG

round, brown, imprinted with GG 904

Voltaren 75 mg

triangular, peach, imprinted with Voltaren 75

Voltaren XR 100 mg

round, pink, imprinted with Voltaren XR, 100

What are the possible side effects of diclofenac (Voltaren)?

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.

Stop taking diclofenac and seek medical attention or 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;
• bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; or
• neck stiffness, chills, increased sensitivity to light, purple spots on the skin, and/or seizure (convulsions).

Less serious side effects may include:

• upset stomach, mild heartburn or stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation bloating, gas;
• dizziness, headache, nervousness;
• skin itching or rash;
• blurred vision; or
• ringing in your ears.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about diclofenac (Voltaren)?

This medicine can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the longer you use diclofenac. Do not use this medicine 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 taking diclofenac. 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.

Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or pain medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Many medicines available over the counter contain aspirin or other medicines similar to diclofenac (such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen). If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of this type of medication. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen.

Do not drink alcohol while taking diclofenac. Alcohol can increase the risk of stomach bleeding caused by diclofenac.