Diclofenac and Upset Stomach: What Users Say

• Mar...
• April 25, 2012

Diclofenac for Osteoarthritis "I started taking Voltaren back in October for osteoarthritis of my knees, right hip, and left hand. I also have bursitis and piriformis syndrome in my right hip as well as Achilles tendonitis in the right foot. I take 75mg two times a day. My knees are so bad that I had to have Synvisc-One injections as well. Combined, I have been able to work my 12-hour shifts as an RN. I still have pain that's about a 6-7 after working three 12-hour shifts in a row, but I would not be able to work at all without the Voltaren. I am looking to have my knees replaced in the near future. The only side effect I have had is stomach upset if I do not take it with food and some mild constipation. I would recommend this medicine to anyone."

• Jef...
• June 8, 2016

For Osteoarthritis "I take 75 mg of diclofenac twice a day for osteoarthritis predominantly in the knees. I am a 44-year-old male employed full-time and spend long periods of time on my feet quite frequently. I cannot say enough how much this drug improved my life. My knee pain was getting so bad I thought I was going to need replacement surgery. I can take long walks and run up the stairs again. One caution is to make sure you eat with food and drink plenty of water throughout the day. A glass of milk and a banana does the trick. It will give you an upset stomach if you don't."

• Dam...
• June 11, 2020

Diclofenac for Frozen Shoulder "Doctor recommended surgery, but I had some Voltaren gel that I used for my knee. Worked well for the knee, so I used it on my left shoulder. After a couple of days applying it 3 times daily, it started working. I have been using it since, and it really helps. I haven't had any stomach ache problems like oral NSAIDs."

• Nom...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 6, 2019

Diclofenac for Pain "I've been taking Zipsor for hip pain for about 4 years. Yes, it can be rough on the stomach, but a daily Prilosec is the remedy for that. Without the Zipsor, I have a difficult time functioning normally as the pain can get intense from inflammation. The only trouble I've come across is my doctor reluctant to prescribe long term. I've not found another form of NSAID that works as well, and I've tried many! As long as I can get the prescription and insurance will pay, I will always use this product. It's a lifesaver!"

• You...
• January 25, 2016

Diclofenac for Pain "The side effects are brutal. Stomach aches, nausea, bloody stools, headache, diarrhea, increased blood pressure, just to name a few. This medicine did give me some relief from pain at the cost of the side effects. Be careful with this medicine, I won't take this med anymore."

• Nak...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2018

Diclofenac for Back Pain "I have degenerative disc disease (DDD), spinal stenosis, sciatica, 11 yr chronic back pain, arthritis, cervical pain, post-operative foot pain. 40 yo female, 5'9.5", 132 lbs. Started Zipsor yesterday, only took three spread out through the day each time I ate, noticed a significant difference. Was even able to get out and hike for the first time in a year. Noticed some stomach discomfort and maybe a slight loss of appetite, but will definitely continue to take this med and hope the stomach issue goes away."

• Jur...
• March 3, 2013

Diclofenac for Back Pain "My doctor prescribed it for me as a follow-up from the epidural injection I had two days ago. My pain is considerably better, but I am guessing/hoping from the procedure, not from the Zipsor. I am having terrible stomach problems that are outweighing what I am guessing the pain relief to be. Going to discontinue as a result. If lower back pain level rises, I may go back to it and bear the stomach discomfort."

• Kni...
• February 21, 2016

Diclofenac for Pain "I am bone on bone in my knee and was in a lot of pain. Had not been able to walk easily for several months. I felt so much better after taking 2 doses, I was shocked. After three days, I feel better than I have before I had the surgery that ended up making my knee worse than before. My only complaint is having to take three doses a day, and it makes me very sleepy. I've tried prescription Aleve and meloxicam and had stomach issues from both, and I'm allergic to something in Celebrex. I feel like this medicine is a godsend."

• mon...
• March 17, 2013

For Muscle Pain "I fell and injured my shoulders and back. I was taking painkillers for two weeks, but nothing helped. I went back to my doctor, and he prescribed diclofenac. I have been taking it for a week, two times a day. It's helping me a lot, I take it with food so it won't upset my stomach. I wouldn't be able to get out of bed."

• Kan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 3, 2018

For Frozen Shoulder "I was prescribed diclofenac sodium 75 mg twice daily by my physician for a severe attack of gout. I was absolutely stunned that it nearly wiped the pain away from my frozen shoulder - adhesive capsulitis. In addition, it reduced the severe back pain of advanced stenosis in my lower back by 75%. I cried for joy. The relief was within about 6 hours. After the gout subsided, my physician allowed me to continue taking it, though reduced the amount to a once-daily pill of 75 mg to avoid heart or other complications. Now only a small percentage of pain comes and goes if I take one tab every 24 hrs. I am a different person with this drug. In doing research, I have never seen a drug called a 'miracle' as I have this drug. My side effects are a minor stomach upset about every 4 days for a few hours. Taking with food helps, and I will talk to the doctor about taking something to protect my stomach. I choose to take it with breakfast so I have relief all day."

• Dic...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 10, 2017

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been using Voltaren (diclofenac) for my RA for 27 years without any other strong medications. Yes, I lost my knee joints and had their replacement, however, for all these 27 years, I have never stopped working a full-time job as a teacher. The most recent dosage is 150 mg a day. If I had stronger pain, I did diclofenac shots to myself, and that helped a lot. What I noticed, the quality of the European diclofenac is much higher. After staying on the US production, or maybe because of aging (or both), I've started feeling side effects: GERD and stomachache at night. So it's time to find something else, though I am grateful to this medication for keeping me alive and productive for 27 years!"

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 4, 2014

Diclofenac for Ankylosing Spondylitis "The first couple of days, this did nothing for me, but by the third day, I really noticed less pain and stiffness. However, I had to stop taking it when I started having severe stomach aches, headaches, and blood pressure spiking up within an hour of taking it."

• C8a...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 15, 2019

For Back Pain "I use diclofenac patches on my back whenever I have muscle pain due to bruxism (grinding my teeth at night) in my upper back, and it always takes the pain away. Now, earlier today, I had an awful pinched nerve in my back (probably due to wallpapering yesterday), and I put a diclofenac patch over the nerve pain area, and it has taken all of the nerve pain away. The patches are absolutely wonderful for local pain, and especially for people like me whose stomachs can't handle meds like ibuprofen very well. I did try the diclofenac tablets once years ago, but they really bothered my stomach, so I won't take those again. However, the patches are an absolute godsend whenever I have localized inflammation/muscle pain or nerve pain, as was the case today."

• Jan...
• May 26, 2018

For Osteoarthritis "This drug worked very well on my arthritis knee pain - for a while. After the 5th day, I got over stomach problems. Some lightheadedness persisted but was tolerable. About day 30, however, I started getting pains up and down my legs in the afternoons and evenings. This problem was not on the list of side effects. The pain kept increasing in intensity, and I finally called my doctor, who told me to stop taking the medicine. Don't know what I'll do now, but diclofenac turned on me!"

• MzC...
• September 12, 2015

For Osteoarthritis "Started on Meloxicam 15 mg, and it did nothing. Was in so much pain in my knees that I called my Dr., and he prescribed Diclofenac sodium DM 75 mg twice a day. I have been on this med for 5 days now. It helped with the pain, but I don't know if I can deal with the side effects of muscle aches, irritability, weakness, fatigue, stomach issues. It is seeming like the side effects are winning. I cannot continue to take this medication. I will be contacting my Dr. and giving him the details and will need to try something else, does anyone have any suggestions on a different medication?"

• Anonymous
• December 14, 2009

For Back Pain "I'm currently taking it for sciatic nerve pain. Have previously taken narcotics with very little effect. Diclofenac works wonders. Mild upset stomach so far, but not bad at all. I've also noticed that the drug seems to become more active when taken with a decent amount of food and when you are active."

• Anonymous
• August 1, 2008

For Pain "I take diclofenac for chronic back pain. I take one diclofenac every 12 hours, and it is very effective. I had mild dizziness and an upset stomach early in treatment, but I now have no side effects at all. When my back gets bad, I still take muscle relaxers, narcotic pain relievers, and chiropractic treatment (when I can afford it), but diclofenac helps me manage things so as to reduce the need for stronger medicines."

• Kee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2019

For Back Pain "I'm taking this for back pain - it does help some. I take it for back pain consecutively, for three days then as needed. It does have a lot of scary side effects, and I do get dizzy, heart flutter, diarrhea, and stomach problems, but it's the only pill that works best for my pain. I'm scared in the long run to what problems this medication will cause."

• Spo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2017

For Pain "I was prescribed diclofenac sodium tablets for emergency medicine regarding my chronic paroxysmal hemicrania. It was ineffective at alleviating any pain. I'd feel a small reduction in pain level for about 30 minutes, then it would spike back up. It caused my blood glucose to shoot up, and I am non-diabetic. It also caused me a great deal of stomach cramps, burning pain below the sternum, belching, heartburn, and diarrhea. I had a better response on ibuprofen, and that did very little."

• gar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 12, 2023

For Ankylosing Spondylitis "Unfortunately, I could no longer take it due to severe stomach and esophagus issues, though it seemed to help some. I have ended up with a few hospital stays due to bleeding ulcers. I no longer can use NSAIDs as the lining of my stomach is nearly eaten, so please be careful with NSAIDs. Watch for sharp stomach pains and constant reflux, and of course, you know to go to the ER immediately if you have bleeding. I have advanced AS with organ involvement."

• Bru...
• December 5, 2009

For Pain "This drug is an excellent anti-inflammatory. For me, however, it did nothing for pain. I had recent shoulder surgery for the third time in my life, and this was prescribed for inflammation and pain. As it did decrease the inflammation, the side effects were not worth it. I developed stomach cramps and severe diarrhea."

• str...
• September 20, 2017

For Pain "I have a few problems: posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, pain due to a large uterine fibroid, plus general joint and muscle aches (cause as yet undiagnosed). My doctor put me on diclofenac because of concerns that I was taking too much ibuprofen, but the diclofenac did almost nothing. Once it kicks in, I have mild pain relief for up to three hours max. It doesn't help uterine pain at all. I took it twice a day for weeks, and it never helped. Also had diarrhea and an upset stomach. Ibuprofen was infinitely better than diclofenac."

• PPr...
• June 27, 2015

For Period Pain "Voveran is the only drug which relieves me from the menstrual cramp. The pain is like a delivery pain for me. I have to take 4 tablets on the first day, 2 on the second day. I get serious stomach ache with a burning sensation after taking the medicine."

• Ald...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 27, 2021

For Pain "Took this medication for several months after shoulder surgery and cannot recommend it. I had terrible stomach and digestion issues while taking it and ended up adding two more meds for acid reflux and other side effects. Stopped taking it and feel better, with more shoulder pain, although this was only slightly more effective than ibuprofen."

• Tar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2018

For Pain "Use: for chronic pelvic pain, which is suspected endometriosis or PID. Dose: 50 mg up to 3 times/day, but planning to use it only when needed. I am still HIGH at 6 hours later after the pill. Worked for migraine, not so much for the pelvic pain. Made me really drowsy and euphoric. Sorry, I am typing this while still tripping, and it all seems really, really funny to me. I am smiling! I feel like I need to share this! Also, it did irritate my stomach, which I can tell by bitter-acidic burps. Aaaaahh, this is the most trippy review you have ever read lolololololllllllllll. Should I give the drug an extra score for the high?"