What is diclofenac sodium 50mg

Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Different brands of diclofenac contain different amounts of this medicine, and may have different uses. If you switch brands, your dose needs may change. Follow your doctor's instructions about how much medicine to take. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about the brand of diclofenac you receive at the pharmacy. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the lowest dose that is effective in treating your condition. Dissolve diclofenac powder Cambia with 1 to 2 ounces of water. Do not use any other type of liquid. Stir this mixture and drink all of it right away. Diclofenac powder works best if you take it on an empty stomach. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose. The diclofenac capsules and tablets typically take about 20 to 30 minutes to work. But some people with chronic conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, may need to take this medicine for an extended period of time. Your doctor may recommend another medicine to protect your stomach if you need to take diclofenac long-term.

Your dosage will depend on your medical condition, the brand of diclofenac you use, the formulation you take, and other factors.

Health Topics. Health Tools. Do not keep out-of-date or unwanted medicines. Take them to your local pharmacy which will dispose of them for you. Dated February I'm worried about falling asleep. Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Egton Medical Information Systems Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy.

Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details see our conditions.

Make sure you take your medication as directed on the label of the pack. In this article About diclofenac Before taking diclofenac How to take diclofenac Getting the most from your treatment Diclofenac side-effects How to store diclofenac Important information about all medicines. Common diclofenac side-effects What can I do if I experience this? Indigestion or heartburn acid reflux , stomach pain Try taking your dose after a meal if you are not already doing so. If the discomfort continues, speak with your doctor Feeling sick nausea Stick to simple meals - avoid rich or spicy foods Diarrhoea Drink plenty of water to replace the lost fluids.

If you have any questions about this medicine ask your pharmacist. Are you protected against flu? Further reading and references. Join the discussion on the forums. Health Tools Feeling unwell?

If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember your medicine. Taking more than your prescribed dose of diclofenac tablets, capsules or suppositories can be dangerous.

It can cause side effects such as:. If you need to go to hospital, take the diclofenac packet or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine, with you. If you use too many plasters or patches or too much gel by mistake, it's unlikely to do you any harm. But if you use too much and get any side effects, tell your doctor straight away.

It's safe to take diclofenac with paracetamol or codeine. Do not take diclofenac with similar painkillers, like aspirin , ibuprofen or naproxen , without talking to a doctor. Diclofenac, aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen all belong to the same group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs. Taking diclofenac together with other NSAIDs may increase your chances of getting side effects like a stomach ache.

NSAIDs are also used in medicines you can buy from pharmacies, such as cough and cold remedies. Before taking any other medicines together with diclofenac, check the label to see if they contain ibuprofen, aspirin or other NSAIDs.

Like all medicines, diclofenac can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Common side effects of diclofenac tablets, capsules and suppositories happen in more than 1 in people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away:. You're less likely to have side effects with diclofenac gel or plasters.

This is because less medicine gets into your body. But you may still get the same side effects, especially if you use a lot on a large area of skin.

Using diclofenac gel or plasters can affect your skin. It can make your skin:. These serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1, people. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to diclofenac. These are not all the side effects of diclofenac. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. This is because diclofenac may cause problems for your unborn baby.

For example it can affect your baby's circulation and it can cause you to have too little amniotic fluid surrounding your baby in the womb. Your doctor will only advise you to take diclofenac while you're pregnant if the benefits of taking the medicine clearly outweigh the risks.

There may be other treatments that are safer for you. Paracetamol is generally the best painkiller to take during pregnancy. You can take diclofenac while breastfeeding. Only very small amounts get into breast milk which are unlikely to cause side effects in your baby. Many breastfeeding mothers have used it without any problems.

If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your midwife, health visitor, pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible.

For more information about how this medicine can affect you and your baby, read this leaflet on diclofenac on the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy BUMPs website. There are some medicines that affect the way diclofenac works.

Tell your doctor if you're taking:. It's not possible to say that complementary medicines or herbal remedies are safe to take with diclofenac.

They're not tested in the same way as prescription medicines or medicines sold in pharmacies. They're generally not tested for the effect they can have on other medicines.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. It works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body.

When you apply diclofenac gel, plasters or patches to your skin, it works in the same way as when you take it as a tablet or capsule. But the gel, plaster or patch only works on the area you have put it on. Diclofenac takes 20 to 30 minutes to work if you take it as tablets or capsules. Suppositories take a few hours to work. There's no difference in how well the tablets, capsules or suppositories work.

The doses of diclofenac are the same for each. If you're using diclofenac gel, plasters or patches on your skin, it usually takes 1 to 2 days to work.

For arthritis, you may need to use the gel for up to 7 days on the painful joint to feel the full effect. Depending on why you're taking diclofenac, you may only need to take it for a short time. For example, if you have a sore back or toothache, you may only need to take diclofenac for 1 or 2 days. You may need to take it for longer if you have a long-term condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis. If you need to take diclofenac tablets or capsules for a long time, your doctor may prescribe a medicine to protect your stomach from side effects.

It's best to take the lowest dose of diclofenac for the shortest time to control your symptoms. Talk to your doctor if you're unsure how long you need to take it for.

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 mg a day for a long time. It's best to take the lowest dose that works for the shortest possible time. If you need to take diclofenac very often or you're taking a big dose, talk to your doctor about the best way to treat your pain. The type of painkiller that's best depends on what type of pain you have and the cause of your pain.

Ibuprofen and naproxen also belong to this group of painkillers. If you need to take an NSAID long term, your doctor or pharmacist may recommend ibuprofen or naproxen instead of diclofenac. This is because they're less likely to cause heart problems.

If NSAIDs do not get rid of your pain, you can try painkillers that you can buy from pharmacies and shops, such as paracetamol or co-codamol paracetamol combined with low-dose codeine. If the medicine you buy is not controlling your pain, your doctor may recommend additional treatment to help your pain, such as exercise or physiotherapy. Diclofenac does not work for some types of pain, such as nerve pain. Your doctor will have to prescribe a different medicine to treat peripheral neuropathy nerve pain.

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, or if you're elderly or in poor general health. Your doctor may tell you not to take diclofenac if you have a stomach ulcer or have had one in the past. If you need to take diclofenac but you're at risk of getting a stomach ulcer, your doctor may prescribe another medicine for you to take alongside diclofenac to protect your stomach.