Flector
Generic Name: diclofenac topical (dye KLO feh nak)
Brand Names: Flector Patch
What is Flector?
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Flector (diclofenac) is in a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs treat the symptoms of pain and inflammation. Exactly how it works is not known. It may block certain substances in the body that are linked to inflammation.
Flector topical patch is used to treat pain caused by minor sprains, strains, or bruising.
Flector may also be used for other purposes not listed here.
Important information about Flector
Before using Flector, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have a history of stomach ulcer or bleeding, liver or kidney disease, high blood pressure, or congestive heart failure.
Do not use cosmetics, sunscreen, lotions, insect repellant, or other medicated skin products not prescribed by your doctor. These products may interfere with Flector, or increase skin irritation. Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds) while you are using Flector.While the risk of absorbing diclofenac topical into your bloodstream is low, all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the longer you use an NSAID. Do not use Flector 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 using an NSAID. 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.
Before using Flector
Do not use Flector if you are allergic to diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), aspirin, or an other NSAID. Do not use Flector just before or after having heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).While the risk of absorbing diclofenac topical into your bloodstream is low, all NSAIDs can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the longer you use an NSAID.
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 using an NSAID. Older adults may have an even greater risk of these serious gastrointestinal side effects.
Before using Flector, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
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a history of asthma or severe allergic reaction after taking aspirin or any NSAID;
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a history of stomach ulcer or bleeding;
- liver disease;
- kidney disease;
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high blood pressure; or
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congestive heart failure.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use Flector.
This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Diclofenac topical can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use Flector without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.How should I use Flector?
Use Flector exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Flector may come with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Do not use Flector on an open skin wound, or on areas of eczema, infection, skin rash, or burn injury. Wait until the condition has fully healed before using Flector.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.
To treat minor pain (with Flector skin patch): Apply the skin patch directly to the area of pain. The Flector skin patch can be worn for up to 12 hours and then removed. Apply a new patch at that time if pain continues. Do not wear a skin patch while taking a bath or shower or while swimming.
If the Flector patch falls off, try sticking it back on, or use medical tape to hold it on.
After removing a skin patch fold it in half, sticky side in, and throw it away in a place where children or pets cannot get to it. Keep both used and unused Flector patches out of the reach of children or pets. Store Flector at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not take a skin patch out of the patch envelope until you are ready to use it. Reseal the envelope for storage.What happens if I miss a dose?
Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose. Do not wear a Flector patch for longer than 12 hours.
What happens if I overdose?
An overdose of diclofenac applied to the skin is unlikely to occur. Seek emergency medical attention if anyone has accidentally swallowed the medication.What should I avoid while using Flector?
Do not use cosmetics, sunscreen, lotions, insect repellant, or other medicated skin products not prescribed by your doctor. These products may interfere with Flector, or increase skin irritation. Avoid getting this medication in your mouth or eyes. If it does get into any of these areas, rinse with water. Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds) while you are using Flector.While you are using Flector, avoid taking oral (pill form) of aspirin or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), piroxicam (Feldene), and others.
Flector side effects
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.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 Flector and 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;
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black, bloody, or tarry stools;
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coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
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swelling or rapid weight gain;
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urinating less than usual or not at all;
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nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
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fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash; or
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bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness.
Less serious side effects may include:
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dryness or itching of treated skin;
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peeling or scaling of treated skin; or
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fever, chills, sore throat, body aches or other flu symptoms.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
What other drugs will affect Flector?
Before using Flector, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:
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a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
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cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune);
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lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
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methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);
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a diuretic (water pills);
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steroids (prednisone and others); or
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an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), 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 your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about Flector.
- Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Flector only for the indication prescribed.
- Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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