Voltaren Gels are medications that can help to relieve joint pain caused by osteoarthritis. Both Voltaren Emulgel and Voltaren 12H Gel can relieve some of the pain linked to osteoarthritis of the knees or fingers.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
NSAIDs are the most effective oral medicines for OA. They include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) naproxen (Aleve) and diclofenac (Voltaren, others). All work by blocking enzymes that cause pain and swelling.
How long does Voltaren take to work? Voltaren contains an effective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine which is clinically proven to relieve arthritis joint pain. With 4-times-a-day use, you may start to feel relief within a few days. You should feel significant pain relief within 7 days of continuous use.
Like other NSAIDs, Voltaren (diclofenac) works by reducing inflammation in the body. When taken in oral form, it's used to treat pain related to such forms of arthritis as osteoarthrtis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. The oral version of this drug is still available only by prescription.
For example, you should not use Voltaren: If you have any heart issues or are at risk for adverse events such as heart attack and stroke. If you have allergies to this drug or other pain or fever aids such as aspirin. Before or after heart surgery4.
Upset stomach, nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, gas, headache, drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
It works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain and inflammation and works best on small joints. Voltaren topical gel is not for immediate relief and may take up to 7 days to work.
Lying down can cause inflammatory chemicals to pool in the fluid that cushions your joints, which makes them stiffen up. And your perception of pain may be heightened during the nighttime because you're not distracted by anything else.
An alternative to pills, Voltaren gel is a topical analgesic that targets pain directly at the source to deliver nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine for powerful arthritis pain relief. Voltaren is clinically proven to relieve joint pain, reduce stiffness, and improve mobility.
It works by pooling diclofenac on the surface of the skin, the medicine then penetrates the underlying tissues, targeting the inflamed tissues (e.g. around the joint to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and speed healing) to relieve pain, decrease swelling and support the healing process.
For osteoarthritis of the knees, ankles, or feet using Voltaren® 1% gel: Adults—Apply 4 grams (g) to the affected skin areas four times a day (a total of 16 g each day). However, the total dose should not exceed 32 g per day over all affected joints. Use the enclosed dosing card to measure the appropriate dose.
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.
Generally, the first medication recommended for osteoarthritis treatment is acetaminophen. It relieves pain but does not reduce inflammation in the body. Acetaminophen is relatively safe, though taking more than the recommended dosage can damage your liver, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The Arthritis Foundation says exercise is “the most effective, non-drug treatment for reducing pain and improving movement in patients with osteoarthritis.” The best types of exercise for osteoarthritis use slight resistance, improve flexibility, offer an aerobic element, and are low impact.
The most common triggers of an OA flare are overdoing an activity or trauma to the joint. Other triggers can include bone spurs, stress, repetitive motions, cold weather, a change in barometric pressure, an infection or weight gain.
Many people who have arthritis or a related disease may be living with chronic pain. Pain is chronic when it lasts three to six months or longer, but arthritis pain can last a lifetime. It may be constant, or it may come and go.
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.
Voltaren Rapid tablets contain diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory that reduces pain and helps get you back on your feet again. In fact, they have been clinically proven for pain relief. Voltaren Rapid tablets are absorbed quickly into your system, so that they are ready to start working on your pain from just 15 minutes.
Therefore, Voltaren can be used as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent not only in short-term therapy but also in the long-term treatment of chronic diseases.
Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. This medication may raise your blood pressure. Check your blood pressure regularly and tell your doctor if the results are high.
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.
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.