Is Voltaren Gel safer than pills?

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER. Topical NSAIDs are associated with almost four times more local skin adverse events but about one-third fewer gastrointestinal adverse events than their oral counterparts in the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain up to 12 weeks.

Which is better Voltaren tablets or gel?

The gel comes with less risk because it is put on and absorbed through your skin, while the oral form goes through your entire body (systemic). Before you use Voltaren in any form, you should tell your provider about any other medications or supplements you take.

Does Voltaren gel get absorbed into the bloodstream?

Roach: Since topical applications of creams like Voltaren or Aspercream are absorbed into the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body, and do not go directly to the site of pain, is there an advantage to using them over oral NSAIDs?

Is anti-inflammatory gel better than tablets?

Less of the drug is absorbed into the blood stream when compared to oral medication, therefore the risk of harmful side effects is significantly lower.

What are the dangers of Voltaren gel?

New OTC Voltaren Gel Pain Reliever VS Advil/Motrin, Aleve Or Tylenol. Facts For Best Choice

How long can you safely use Voltaren gel?

How long should I use Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel? It is intended to be used 4 times a day, every day. Use up to 21 days unless directed by your doctor.

Is Voltaren gel hard on the liver?

3) Diclofenac (Voltaren, Cambia)

Any NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) can cause liver injury, although it's very rare. This class of medications includes popular drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen. But when it comes to liver injury, diclofenac is the NSAID with the highest risk.

Is oral diclofenac better than gel?

A pooled analysis of two studies directly comparing the safety of topical diclofenac with that of oral diclofenac in patients with knee OA found that the topical solutions resulted in fewer gastrointestinal events (25.4 vs. 39.0% of patients, P < 0.0001), especially dyspepsia (11.0 vs.

Why can't you use Voltaren gel on your back?

It reduces inflammation and pain. Voltaren gel is approved for use on arm and leg joints only. It has not been studied for use in the hips or spine. You should not use Voltaren gel to treat muscle pain in other areas of the body, such as the lower back.

Does Voltaren Gel raise blood pressure?

NSAIDs, including Voltaren Gel, can lead to high blood pressure or worsening of high blood pressure, which may add to the increased risk of heart attack and stroke. There is a potential for elevation in liver function tests during treatment with diclofenac containing products.

Does Voltaren gel affect the heart?

Voltaren Arthritis Pain gel can increase your risk of fatal heart attack or stroke, especially if you use it long term or take high doses, or if you have heart disease. Even people without heart disease or risk factors could have a stroke or heart attack while using Voltaren Arthritis Pain gel.

Does Voltaren gel go through kidneys?

A gel form of the prescription NSAID diclofenac (Voltaren Gel) is one option. Only a very small amount of the drug gets into the bloodstream, so it may be safe for your kidneys. However, topicals may not work well for hip pain, because the joint is too deep for the medication to penetrate.

Does Voltaren gel cause kidney damage?

Normal kidneys produce a hormone called prostaglandins that are used to protect the kidney from stress. Diclofenac and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's) cause the kidney to lose the capacity to make these protective hormones and over time, can result in progressive kidney damage.

Is diclofenac gel safer than oral?

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER. Topical NSAIDs are associated with almost four times more local skin adverse events but about one-third fewer gastrointestinal adverse events than their oral counterparts in the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain up to 12 weeks.

Which Voltaren is best for arthritis?

Voltaren gel, which is the form that is applied topically (to the skin), is most useful for osteoarthritis of the knees and hands.

Why was Voltaren taken off the market?

A slew of studies, though, show diclofenac — sold under the brand names Voltaren, Cambia, Cataflam and Zipsor — is just as likely to cause a heart attack as the discredited painkiller Vioxx (rofecoxib), which was pulled from the U.S. market in 2004.

Why can't you put Voltaren on your shoulder?

It's a potent medication that is very effective for many people and is often used for arthritis pain. For superficial joints – like hands, wrists and even knees – it can be very effective. However, the joints of the cervical spine in the neck, and most of the shoulder joint, are deeper than the Voltaren can penetrate.

Is biofreeze the same as Voltaren?

Biofreeze contains menthol, and like other menthol-containing products, it alleviates pain via counter-irritation, specifically cooling the surface of the skin. Voltaren instead treats pain by temporarily blocking the production of pain-signaling chemicals called prostaglandins.

Where can you not apply Voltaren Gel?

Apply the medicine very carefully to clean, dry skin, and avoid getting any in your eyes, nose, or mouth. Do not apply this medicine to areas with broken skin or open wounds, infection, or severely peeling skin. Apply enough medicine each time to cover the entire affected area.

When should you not use diclofenac gel?

Do not apply to skin that has any cuts, open wounds, infections or rashes. Apply the gel to the directed skin areas, using the dosing card to help apply the gel to the skin to up to 2 body areas. Do not apply to more than 2 body areas. Use your hands to gently rub the gel into the skin.

What happens if you use too much diclofenac gel?

Diclofenac tablets and capsules can cause an ulcer in your stomach or gut if you take them for a long time or in big doses. There's also a small risk of heart failure or kidney failure if you take very big doses (150mg a day) for a long time. It's best to take the lowest dose that works for the shortest possible time.

Does topical diclofenac have the same side effects as oral?

Topical diclofenac is applied to the skin and works well to ease joint pain from osteoarthritis. It has less side effects compared to oral diclofenac tablets. Depending on where your pain is located, it might be inconvenient to use or hard to apply.

Does Voltaren gel have systemic effects?

There is systemic exposure to diclofenac following normal use of Voltaren® Gel, up to 6% of the systemic levels of a single oral dose of diclofenac sodium. [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)] Therefore, concomitant administration of Voltaren® Gel with oral NSAIDs or aspirin may result in increased adverse NSAID effects.

Is it OK to take Voltaren tablets everyday?

Adults The recommended daily dose of Voltaren SR tablets is 75mg-150mg. Adults The recommended daily dose ranges from 1 to 3 Voltaren D dispersible tablets, depending on the situation. Children (over 14 years of age) For children over 14 years of age, 2 tablets daily is usually sufficient.

What happens if you take Voltaren for too long?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (including diclofenac) may rarely increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. This effect can happen at any time while taking this drug but is more likely if you take it for a long time.