Voltaren Gel and/or Equivalents

Voltaren Gel (Diclofenac gel)

Voltaren Gel Description

Voltaren Gel (also called as diclofenac gel) is a prescription medicine given to the patients with osteoarthritis. It is especially helpful in the treatment of hands and knees arthritis because it is easy to apply gel to these areas. Voltaren Gel is a part of a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). NSAIDs work by selectively blocking the action of an enzyme called as cyclooxygenase (COX). They also inhibit the formation of inflammatory chemicals in your body. The effects of Voltaren Gel are largely limited to the area where this medication is applied. Only about 6% of Voltaren Gel is actually absorbed into the rest of your body. As a result, a large part of your body is untouched by the side-effects of this drug.

Conditions Treated by Voltaren Gel

Voltaren Gel is a licensed arthritis medication. It is specially prescribed to treat osteoarthritis of the following body parts: Knees, Feet, Ankles, Elbows, Hands, Wrists. This medication is generally proscribed for children. You must not give Voltaren Gel to your child without consulting a child specialist. Sometimes, your doctor may prescribe Voltaren Gel for treating problems other than osteoarthritis of the aforementioned areas. Such applications are termed as off-label uses for this medication. Voltaren Gel has been used as an off-label treatment for osteoarthritis of body parts other than knees, feet, ankles, elbows, hands and wrists. It can also be used in treating other forms of arthritis, notably, rheumatoid arthritis.

Voltaren Gel Dosage Information

a.) Typical Dosage Recommendations

The typical dosage of Voltaren Gel recommended by your doctor will vary under different circumstances. The dose usually depends on the specific parts of your body that require the treatment. It also depends on other medications you may have been put on. The dosage is also subjective to other medical illnesses you may be suffering from. You should not stop the medication on your own. Moreover, you should not change the dosage without your doctor’s supervision. The standard Voltaren Gel dosage recommended for osteoarthritis of elbows, hands and wrists is 2 grams. It has to be applied four times a day.

b.) Missing a Dose

If you manage to miss a dosage for some reason, apply the missed dosage the moment you remember about it. But if it’s time for the next dose, do not take the missed dose. Instead, resume with the regular schedule. Taking a double dose of Voltaren Gel (or any medication, for that matter) can be very harmful.

c.) Overdosing

Due to some reason or other, people may take more than the medically recommended dose of Voltaren Gel. Overdosing on this medication can cause potentially dangerous side effects. However, the specific side-effects generally vary according to various factors. One of the significant factors is the amount of dosage taken. Another factor is how this medication was taken i.e. whether Volteran Gel was taken orally or applied topically. The overdose symptoms are more pronounced if the drug is taken orally. If Voltaren Gel is applied directly to the skin, only 6% of this medication affects rest of the body.

Voltaren Gel Warnings

Voltaren Gel, as the name indicates, is a gel that is applied topically – meaning it is applied directly to the skin of the affected area. However, some amount of this drug enters the bloodstream and may lead to side-effects. As it is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), you must consider each and every standard warning that is associated with other NSAIDs. You must consult approved medication guides that contain all the relevant information on Voltaren Gel. Usually such medication guides are distributed along with the product. Otherwise, you can look up Voltaren Gel on the web. To avoid being overwhelmed by the vastness of the internet, visit only authentic drug-related websites. Voltaren Gel is sometimes connected to cardiovascular problems including strokes and heart attacks. To reduce these risks, topically apply the smallest effective amount of this medication.

Voltaren Gel Side Effects

Studies on the harmful effects of Volteran Gel have shown that the most common side effects are drug-induced skin reactions. Both short-term and long-term studies were conducted. Approximately 7 percent of osteoarthritis patients had a skin reaction upon using Volteran Gel for a short period. Whereas, long-term research indicates that about 11% of osteoarthritis patients got a skin reaction. The “skin reactions” is a broad term. It includes various kinds of changes in the skin where the medication is applied. Mostly the reactions are peculiar sensations, inflammation, raised rash, redness, dryness, skin-irritation, itching, and partial or complete loss of sensation. As a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) Voltaren Gel can lead to severe side-effects which require immediate medical attention. Do not delay in visiting your health care provider if you notice any side-effect of this drug. Although non- exhaustive, the following list illustrates the side-effects you can’t afford to ignore.

• Symptoms of heart attack, such as pain in the chest, breathing difficulties including breathlessness, shoulder pain, pain in the arm or/and jaw, aggravated asthma, hypertension (High blood pressure)
• Symptoms of stroke, such as confusion, slurred speech, weakness in only one side of the body or face.
• Digestive tract bleeding indicated in dark faecal matter or/and bloody vomit
• Liver problems such as jaundice (characterized by yellowing of the skin and eye-whites); rapid and sudden weight gain; swelling of the arms, hands, legs, or feet; and water retention
• Symptoms of an allergic reaction that include mysterious rash, itching, sudden swelling, especially of the throat or mouth.
• Wheezing
• Swallowing difficulties and breathing problems

Voltaren Gel Drug Interactions

Whether applied topically or taken orally, Voltaren Gel can interact with numerous other medications. Here we will discuss the interaction of Voltaren Gel with Cyclosporine and Digoxin. If Cyclosporine and Voltaren Gel are taken together, then the latter may raise the amount of cyclosporine in the bloodstream, thereby amplifying its side effects. Additionally, this interaction may cause kidney damage. The combination of Digoxin and Voltaren Gel may raise the amount of Dixogin in the bloodstream, and hence amplify the risk of its side effects.

If you have any questions about buying discount Voltaren Gel online or any other prescription products you can contact our team of professional Patient Service Representatives or one of our pharmacists 24-7 by calling 1-800-226-3784.

Notice: The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Voltaren Gel and/or Equivalents warnings, side-effects and general information