Diclofenac Side Effects
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 12, 2020.
In Summary
More frequently reported side effects include: abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, fluid retention, nausea, and headache. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.
For the Consumer
Applies to diclofenac: oral capsule, oral capsule liquid filled, oral powder for solution, oral tablet, oral tablet enteric coated, oral tablet extended release
Warning
Oral route (Capsule)
NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may occur early in treatment and may increase with duration of use. Diclofenac is contraindicated in the setting of CABG surgery. NSAIDs also cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events, including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal. These events can occur at any time during use and without warning symptoms. Elderly patients and patients with a prior history of peptic ulcer disease and/or GI bleeding are at greater risk for serious GI events.
Oral route (Tablet, Delayed Release; Tablet, Enteric Coated; Tablet, Extended Release)
NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may occur early in treatment and may increase with duration of use. Diclofenac sodium is contraindicated in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft surgery. NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal. These events can occur at any time during use and without warning symptoms. Elderly patients and patients with a prior history of peptic ulcer disease and/or GI bleeding are at greater risk for serious GI events.
Oral route (Tablet; Capsule, Liquid Filled; Powder for Solution)
NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may occur early in treatment and may increase with duration of use. Diclofenac is contraindicated in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft surgery. NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal. These events can occur at any time during use and without warning symptoms. Elderly patients and patients with a prior history of peptic ulcer disease and/or GI bleeding are at greater risk for serious GI events.
Side effects requiring immediate medical attention
Along with its needed effects, diclofenac may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking diclofenac:
More common
- Abdominal or stomach bloating, burning, cramping, or pain
- belching
- bloody or black, tarry stools
- cloudy urine
- constipation
- decrease in urine output or decrease in urine-concentrating ability
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- feeling of indigestion
- headache
- increased bleeding time
- itching skin or rash
- loss of appetite
- nausea and vomiting
- pain in the chest below the breastbone
- pale skin
- severe stomach pain
- swelling
- troubled breathing with exertion
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
- weight loss
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking diclofenac:
Symptoms of overdose
- Agitation
- blurred vision
- change in consciousness
- change in the ability to see colors, especially blue or yellow
- confusion
- depression
- difficult or troubled breathing
- hives
- hostility
- irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
- irritability
- loss of consciousness
- muscle twitching
- nervousness
- pain or discomfort in the chest, upper stomach, or throat
- pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
- puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
- rapid weight gain
- seizures
- sleepiness
- slow or fast heartbeat
- stupor
- swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
- tightness in the chest
- trouble sleeping
- unusual drowsiness, dullness, or feeling of sluggishness
Side effects not requiring immediate medical attention
Some side effects of diclofenac may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
- excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
- hearing loss
- lack or loss of strength
- passing gas
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to diclofenac: compounding powder, intravenous solution, oral capsule, oral delayed release tablet, oral powder for reconstitution, oral tablet, oral tablet extended release
Gastrointestinal
Very common (10% or more): Nausea (up to 24%), constipation (up to 13%)
Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, diarrhea, dyspepsia, flatulence, gross bleeding/perforation, heartburn, gastric and duodenal ulcers, vomiting
Rare (less than 0.1%): Colitis, eructation, pancreatitis
Frequency not reported: Dry mouth, esophagitis, gastritis, glossitis, hematemesis, stomatitis[Ref]
NSAIDs including this drug, can cause serious gastrointestinal (GI) events which can occur at any time, with or without warning. For patients who develop a serious upper GI event, only about 20% were symptomatic. Upper GI ulcers, gross bleeding, or perforation occurred in approximately 1% of patients treated with NSAIDs for 3 to 6 months and 2% to 4% of patients treated for 1 year. Patients with a prior history of peptic ulcer disease and/or GI bleeding had a greater than 10-fold increased risk for developing a GI bleed than patients with neither of these risk factors.[Ref]
Hepatic
Borderline elevations of 1 or more liver tests to less than 3 times the upper limit of the normal (3 x ULN) or greater elevations in transaminases occurred in about 15% of patients treated with this drug. Elevations to greater than 3 x ULN of AST occurred in about 2% (n=5700) of patients at some point during treatment. In an open-labeled trial among patients receiving NSAIDs, a higher incidence of transaminase elevations were observed in patients receiving diclofenac compared with other NSAIDs.[Ref]
Common (1% to 10%): Elevated liver enzymes
Rare (less than 0.1%): Hepatitis, jaundice, liver disorder
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Fulminant hepatitis, hepatic necrosis, hepatic failure
Postmarketing reports: Drug-induced hepatotoxicity[Ref]
Renal
Common (1% to 10%): Abnormal renal function, increased serum creatinine
Rare (less than 0.1%): Nephrotic syndrome, interstitial nephritis, renal papillary necrosis, acute renal failure, urinary frequency, nocturia, proteinuria, and hematuria[Ref]
Dermatologic
Common (1% to 10%): Pruritus, rashes
Rare (less than 0.1%): Angioedema, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme, exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, urticaria
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Bullous eruptions, eczema, erythema, erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis (Lyell's syndrome), dermatitis exfoliative, loss of hair, photosensitivity reaction
Frequency not reported: Increased sweating[Ref]
Hematologic
Common (1% to 10%): Anemia, increased bleeding time
Rare (less than 0.1%): Agranulocytosis, hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, lymphadenopathy, pancytopenia
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, positive Coombs' test
Frequency not reported: Ecchymosis, eosinophilia, melena, purpura, rectal bleeding[Ref]
NSAIDs inhibit platelet aggregation and have been shown to prolong bleeding time in some patients. Unlike aspirin, the NSAID effect on platelet function is quantitatively less, of shorter duration, and reversible.[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urticaria, rash, angioedema, bronchospasm
Rare (less than 0.1%): Anaphylactic reactions
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Angioneurotic edema (including facial edema)[Ref]
Metabolic
Rare (less than 0.1%): Changes in appetite, hyperglycemia
Frequency not reported: Weight changes[Ref]
Nervous system
Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, headaches
Rare (less than 0.1%): Meningitis
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Memory impairment
Frequency not reported: Confusion, drowsiness, insomnia, paresthesia, tremors[Ref]
Cardiovascular
Clinical trials of several cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 selective and nonselective NSAIDs of up to 3 years duration have shown an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, myocardial infarction, and stroke, which can be fatal. All NSAIDs appear to have a similar risk. There is no consistent evidence that concurrent use of aspirin mitigates this increased risk and may be associated with an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal events.
Pharmacoepidemiological data reveal an increased risk of arteriothrombotic events associated with diclofenac use, particularly at a high dose and during long-term treatment. In a meta-analysis of long-term treatment with diclofenac 150 mg/day, compared with placebo use of this drug resulted in approximately 3 additional major vascular events per 1000 participants.[Ref]
Common (1% to 10%): Edema
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cardiac failure, chest pain
Rare (less than 0.1%): Arrhythmia, hypotension, myocardial infarction, palpitations
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Vasculitis
Frequency not reported: Congestive heart failure, tachycardia, syncope, hypertension[Ref]
Psychiatric
Rare (less than 0.1%): Hallucinations
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Disorientation, depression, nightmare, irritability, psychotic disorder
Frequency not reported: Anxiety, nervousness[Ref]
Other
Common (1% to 10%): Tinnitus,
Rare (less than 0.1%): Hearing impairment
Frequency not reported: Fever, asthenia, vertigo[Ref]
Ocular
Rare (less than 0.1%): Conjunctivitis
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Blurred vision, visual disturbance, diplopia
Frequency not reported: Optic neuritis
General
The most common adverse reactions among patients treated with this drug included; gastrointestinal events of abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, flatulence, gross bleeding,/perforation, heartburn, nausea, gastric and duodenal ulcers, and vomiting; abnormal renal function, anemia, dizziness, edema, elevated liver enzymes, headaches, increased bleeding time, pruritus, rashes, and tinnitus.
Genitourinary
Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection
Frequency not reported: Cystitis, dysuria, hematuria, interstitial nephritis, oliguria/polyuria
Immunologic
Frequency not reported: Infection, sepsis
Local
Common (1% to 10%): Local reactions such as itching, burning, and increased bowel movement with suppository use
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Exacerbation of hemorrhoids with suppository use
Respiratory
Common (1% to 10%): Sinusitis, upper respiratory infection, nasopharyngitis, bronchitis
Rare (less than 0.1%): Pneumonia
Frequency not reported: Asthma, dyspnea
References
1. "Product Information. Voltaren (diclofenac)." Novartis Pharmaceuticals, East Hanover, NJ.
2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
Frequently asked questions
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Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.