Voltaren Gel
Generic Name:Brand Names: Voltaren Gel
What is Voltaren Gel?
Voltaren Gel contains diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs). Diclofenac works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body.
Voltaren Topical Gel 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.
Voltaren Gel may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important information about Voltaren Gel
Do not use Voltaren Gel if you have ever had asthma or a severe allergic reaction caused by aspirin, diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Do not use diclofenac just before or after having heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).
Before using Voltaren Gel, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, a history of heart attack or stroke, a history of stomach ulcer or bleeding, liver or kidney disease, a blood clotting disorder, asthma, or nasal polyps.
Learn the signs of RA and how to relieve the pain.
While the risk of absorbing diclofenac topical into your bloodstream is low, an NSAID may cause life-threatening heart or circulation problems such as heart attack or stroke, especially if you use it long term.
Get emergency medical help if you have chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, or problems with vision or balance.
This medicine may also cause serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and can occur without warning while you are using Voltaren Gel, especially in older adults.
Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of stomach bleeding such as black, bloody, or tarry stools, or coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
What should I discuss with my health care provider before using Voltaren Gel?
While the risk of absorbing diclofenac from Voltaren Topical Gel into your bloodstream is low, an NSAID can cause life-threatening heart or circulation problems such as heart attack or stroke, especially if you use it long term.
This medicine may also cause serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and can occur without warning while you are using Voltaren Gel, especially in older adults.
Do not use Voltaren Gel if you have ever had asthma or a severe allergic reaction caused by aspirin, diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), or another NSAID. Do not use diclofenac just before or after having heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or (CABG).
To make sure you can safely use Voltaren Gel, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
- a history of drug allergies;
- a history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot;
- heart disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure;
- a history of stomach ulcer or bleeding;
- liver or kidney disease;
- a bleeding or blood clotting disorder; or
- asthma, or polyps in your nose.
Voltaren Gel may be harmful to an unborn baby. If you are pregnant, ask your doctor if it is safe for you to use Voltaren Gel. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Diclofenac can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using Voltaren Gel.
How should I use Voltaren Gel?
Use Voltaren Gel exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
When treating osteoarthritis, keep using any oral medications your doctor has prescribed.
Do not use Voltaren Gel on an open skin wound, or on areas of eczema, infection, skin rash, or burn injury.
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 Voltaren Gel, unless you are treating the skin on your hands. Do not wear gloves for at least 10 minutes after applying Voltaren Gel to the hands.
After you apply Voltaren Gel gel, wait at least 10 minutes before dressing and at least 1 hour before you bathe or shower.
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.
To treat arthritis pain in the foot, spread the Voltaren 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.
Store Voltaren Gel at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not freeze.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while using Voltaren Gel?
Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of stomach bleeding. Do not use cosmetics, sunscreen, lotions, insect repellant, or other medicated skin products on the same area you treat with Voltaren Gel. Avoid getting this medication in your mouth, nose, or eyes. If this does happen, rinse with water. Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds) while you are using Voltaren Gel.
Avoid taking aspirin, oral (pill form) diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), or other NSAIDs without your doctor's advice. This includes ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), indomethacin, piroxicam (Feldene), nabumetone (Relafen), etodolac (Lodine), and others.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any cold, allergy, or pain medicine. Aspirin and other medicines similar to diclofenac are contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much of a certain drug. Check the label to see if a medicine contains aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen.
Voltaren Gel side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Voltaren Gel: 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 Voltaren Gel and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
- chest pain, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance, and feeling weak or short of breath;
- bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
- pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, confusion;
- swelling or rapid weight gain, urinating less than usual or not at all;
- nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
- bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;
- fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash; or
- the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild.
Less serious Voltaren Gel side effects may include:
- mild nausea, stomach pain, upset stomach;
- diarrhea, gas; or
- mild itching, dryness, redness, scaling, or other skin irritation where the medicine was applied.
This is not a complete list of Voltaren Gel 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 other drugs will affect Voltaren Gel?
Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:
- a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);
- cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);
- lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
- methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);
- a diuretic (water pill);
- steroids (prednisone and others); or
- heart or blood pressure medication such as benazepril (Lotensin), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), 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 medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
