In the article, we consider the instructions for use and price for Diclofenac ointment.
A medication is an analgesic drug from the group of anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs. This drug is available in several forms, the list of which includes solutions for injection, suppositories, tablets and ointments.
According to the instructions for use, Diclofenac ointment is a homogeneous white substance with a mild odor. This medicine is available in special aluminum tubes containing 30 g of ointment, packed in cardboard boxes with a detailed annotation for use.
The main active components of this medication is sodium diclofenac and dimexide. Excipients of the drug are represented by dimethyl sulfoxide, macrogol (polyethylene oxide), macrogol 400, 1,2-propylene glycol. Each pack has instructions for using the ointment.
Gel "Diclofenac" 5% can also be found on sale. This is a uniform, white or yellow-white gel, which has a specific smell. The active substance is diclofenac sodium 5.0 g. As auxiliary substances: ethanol, carbopol, propylene glycol, trolamine, methyl parahydroxybenzoate, lavender oil, purified water.
Pharmacological properties
As indicated by the instructions for use, Diclofenac ointment is intended for external use. The drug belongs to the group of anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs and has a strong analgesic effect. In this dosage form, the drug is absorbed in small amounts into the general systemic circulation, therefore, this ointment is not recommended for patients with impaired internal organs and blood clotting.
This medication is an NSAID derivative of phenylacetic acid and is able to have an anti-inflammatory effect. This mechanism is due to the suppression of the activity of COX-1 and COX-2, which provokes a violation of the synthesis of prostaglandins and metabolism of arachidonic acid, which are the main link in the development of the inflammatory process.
With external use, it leads to relief or a significant weakening of the pain syndrome at the site of application, reduces the intensity of pain in the joints, during movement and at rest, and also eliminates morning swelling and stiffness of the joints. The drug also helps to increase the range of motion in the inflamed joints.
Indications for use
In accordance with the instructions for use, Diclofenac ointment 1% is prescribed to patients over 14 years of age for the treatment of the following pathologies:
- joint pain;
- muscle sprain or inflammation;
- muscle pain
- dislocations or bruises for the relief of pain;
- osteochondrosis;
- hematomas;
- post-traumatic inflammatory process in the soft tissues.
Contraindications
In the instructions for use for Diclofenac ointment, price and reviews are not indicated. We will consider them at the end of the article.
This medication is contraindicated for application to the skin if the patient has the following conditions:
- bleeding wounds;
- open wound surface;
- bleeding disorder, a tendency to bleeding, hemophilia;
- allergic present in the anamnesis, in particular for aspirin or other drugs from the group of anti-inflammatory non-steroid drugs;
- cases of individual intolerance to the elements that make up this medication.
Dosages and method of applying ointment
What else does the application instruction for Diclofenac ointment tell us? The medical device is intended exclusively for external use. The drug is not recommended to be applied to areas in the anus.
For people over 14 years old, the ointment is applied to the skin with a thin layer (approximately 4 g of the drug once) and rubbed with light movements. Gauze dressings with a medication are not recommended, since this can lead to increased absorption of the active components of this medicine into the general bloodstream and cause adverse reactions.
The ointment is applied to clean, dry skin up to four times a day, which depends on the indications for use. The duration of the therapeutic course is determined by a specialist, however, this ointment is not recommended for use for more than one week, since this significantly increases the risk of developing systemic side effects.
In the absence of the expected therapeutic effect after three days from the start of the use of the drug, the patient should consult a doctor in order to correct the diagnosis and prescribed treatment with ointment with diclofenac sodium. Instructions for use with the drug should be strictly observed.
Use during pregnancy and breastfeeding
The drug "Diclofenac" in the form of ointments is not recommended for the treatment of women in the first trimester of pregnancy due to the lack of reliable data on the effect of the main active substances on the intrauterine development of the child.
The use of this ointment in the second and third trimesters is allowed under strict indications only in cases where the expected effect for the expectant mother is expected to be higher than the possible risk for the embryo. Therapy in such a case should be carried out under the close supervision of a specialist, as soon as possible. If prolonged use of the drug is necessary (more than five days), a pregnant woman should monitor blood platelet levels.
About the penetration of the main active elements of the drug into breast milk during the use of the ointment during lactation, nothing is known, therefore therapy with this drug for women who are breastfeeding is undesirable. However, if there is such a need, experts recommend temporarily stopping lactation.
Side effects
According to the instructions for use and reviews of Diclofenac ointment, in most cases, local use of the drug is well tolerated by patients. In cases of individual sensitivity or intolerance to the components of this medicine or for prolonged use in large dosages, the following side effects may develop in patients:
- skin rashes;
- redness and discomfort at the site of application of the drug;
- nipping and burning of the skin.
In rare cases, patients may develop urticaria or angioedema due to allergies to the components in the composition of Diclofenac ointment. The instructions for use confirm this.
Overdose symptoms
Cases of overdose of 1% ointment have not been described in clinical medical practice. However, the practical use of this medication shows that this is possible, especially in cases of using large doses of the drug in large areas of the skin, and, in particular, there are systemic signs of an overdose, which in this case include:
- change in clinical blood counts;
- the occurrence of bleeding;
- increased sensitivity of the skin at the site of application of the drug;
- bleeding from wound surfaces.
The drug is not recommended for use on anogenital sites, since through the mucous membrane the main active elements of the drug are well absorbed into the general bloodstream and can cause the development of the above side effects in pronounced form.
In case of negative reactions of the body during therapy with Diclofenac ointment, patients are advised to seek the advice of a specialist. In this case, the use of the ointment should be stopped and, if necessary, symptomatic therapy should be carried out (in cases of the development of systemic adverse reactions and overdose symptoms).
Interaction with other medicines
The drug "Diclofenac" in the form of an ointment is not recommended for use in concomitant therapy with direct exposure anticoagulants, since this can lead to the development of side effects in the form of bleeding.
With the simultaneous use of the ointment, along with oral medications from this drug category, the risk of overdose significantly increases in patients, especially in cases where the ointment is applied to large areas of the skin.
Special recommendations
The drug "Diclofenac" is not used in pediatrics because of the high risks of systemic absorption of the main substances into the general bloodstream.
After applying the medication to the patient’s skin, wash your hands to avoid getting it in your eyes. In this case, the patient should rinse his eyes with running water.
Analogs
The analogues of this medication for external use include the following:
- "Orthoflex";
- Ortofen;
- Dolobene;
- "Dolaren"
Before replacing a drug with its analogue, consult your healthcare professional.
Below, we consider a brief instruction on the use of Diclofenac-Teva ointment.
Diclofenac Teva
This drug is similar to the product we are describing. They have a different manufacturer.
"Diclofenac-Teva" is indicated primarily for people suffering from osteochondrosis and a variety of joint diseases. In the event of any pain in the spine, from lumbago shoots to a hernia, the use of gels or creams with the effect of anesthesia is indicated. This medication is often prescribed for sprains and dislocations.
The range of use of Diclofenac-Teva is as wide as possible: back pain of various origins, muscle soreness, sprain, joint pain, including rheumatoid phenomena, foci of inflammation in the tissues. The gel does not have a warming effect, therefore, compared with the usual diclofenac ointment, it has fewer contraindications. Its structure is smooth, soft, transparent. When applied, the gel is absorbed quickly. An important condition, especially when applied to the back, is a clean skin surface, otherwise the gel tends to roll into crumbs. Before use, it is necessary to wipe the surface of the skin with a damp towel or treat it with an alcohol solution.
The gel is based on the active substance diclofenac. The remaining elements that are part of the composition are aimed at improving the formula of the drug and enhancing the action of the main substance. In this case, such components are lavender oil, ethanol, carbomer, propylene glycol, diethylamine, triethanolamine.
Diclofenac and Diclofenac-Teva differ in their degree of effectiveness. This analogue of the main drug is intended for those patients who have a particularly persistent pain syndrome and a high sensitivity threshold.
We also describe the instructions for use with Diclofenac-Akrikhin ointment.
The medication is prescribed for:
- Post-traumatic inflammation of the joints and soft tissues (sprains, overstresses and bruises).
- Rheumatic diseases of soft tissues: tenosynovitis, bursitis, damage to periarticular tissues.
- Pain and swelling associated with pathologies of the joints and muscles: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, radiculitis, lumbago, sciatica, muscle pain, which have rheumatic and non-rheumatic origin.
Contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity to diclofenac or other substances in the composition, anamnestic data on bronchial obstruction, rhinitis; urticaria with acetylsalicylic acid or any NSAIDs, pregnancy (in the 3rd trimester), lactation, in childhood (up to 6 years), violation of the integrity of the skin.
Instructions for use for Diclofenac-Acre ointment indicate that the drug is indicated for use with:
- Inflammatory diseases of the musculoskeletal system (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic, juvenile chronic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatic lesions of the soft tissues; gouty arthritis); traumatic inflammation of the ligaments, tendons, joints and muscles.
- Pain syndrome (degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system: deforming osteoarthritis, osteochondrosis, as well as lumbago, neuralgia, sciatica, myalgia, tendovaginitis, bursitis, rheumatic lesions of soft tissues).
Drug cost
The average price of Diclofenac in the form of an ointment for external application is 23 rubles per tube. It depends on the region and the pharmacy network.
Reviews
For several decades, this medication has been helping people cope with such a problem as pain syndrome of various localization. Due to the fact that this tool is very famous and proven, there are a lot of reviews about it and almost all of them are positive. Patients say that Diclofenac ointment is a highly effective drug for osteochondrosis, various back pains, muscle sprains, bruises, etc. This medication is also widely used in chronic joint diseases to relieve acute pain. During the use of the ointment, patients observed a rapid abatement of pain, in most cases within a few hours with minor manifestations of the disease, and during the first two days with serious chronic disorders.
Judging by the reviews, Diclofenac ointment almost never causes side effects. In rare cases, there was an increased sensitivity of the skin in the form of redness and itching, systemic reactions were not observed.
Reviews of experts show that this medication is prescribed more often than others, since it is the main and traditional in the treatment of the above diseases. However, doctors note that before using this ointment, you need to make sure that there are no contraindications or get specialist advice, which will help to eliminate many undesirable consequences. In general, the doctors' reviews about this medication are positive, and speak of its effectiveness over a very long period of time. Experts do not recommend the use of this ointment for children under the age of twelve.
We examined the Diclofenac ointment for instructions for use, price and analogues.