Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are a popular type of pain medication that helps you quickly and effectively eliminate unpleasant symptoms. Their advantages are low cost, availability and security. At the same time, such drugs are released not only in the form of tablets, but also in the form of numerous ointments that are used for external use. Doctors often prescribe Diklak gel for patients. Instructions for use, reviews of doctors and patients, as well as analogues of this medication, we will consider in this article.
Release form and composition
To begin with, it is worth mentioning that Diklak is a rather popular pain medication, and it is produced not only in the form of a gel. In the pharmacy, patients can also buy pills, ointment, solution for intramuscular injection and suppositories. However, in this article we will talk specifically about the Diklak gel.
It is used for external use. The active substance of the drug is diclofenac sodium. Its concentration in the gel is 5%. So, in 1 g of the drug contains 50 mg of this component. The composition of the anesthetic includes auxiliary substances. So, the instructions indicate that the gel consists of purified water, isopropyl alcohol, aromatic oil, hypromellose and others.
The gel does not have a pronounced shade, it is colorless and almost transparent. However, sometimes in it you can see small yellow blotches - they do not affect its effectiveness in any way. The drug is homogeneous in structure, homogeneous. There should not be bubbles in it. Thanks to the isopropyl alcohol, which is part of the gel, it has a rather pronounced and pungent odor.
The gel is placed in aluminum tubes of 50 and 100 g. The drug is dispensed without a prescription, but it is still not recommended to use it without prior consultation. The tubes themselves are packed in cardboard boxes. The cost of this medication will depend on the weight of the tube. The minimum price for the smallest of them starts at about 265 rubles. You can use the gel for three years after release. And you need to store it in a cool place.
What diseases do doctors prescribe this gel for?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are broad-based agents. With their help, people can quickly and safely reduce or completely eliminate pain in any part of the body. Gel "Diklak" is prescribed for local use. It should be understood that it can alleviate the condition of the patient, however, it is impossible to recover completely from the disease with its help. Therefore, most often it is used for symptomatic therapy or in combination with other medicines.
Like other similar drugs, it has a fairly large list of indications for use. So, the instructions indicate that it is used for the following pathologies:
- traumatic injuries of joints, muscles and soft tissues, for example, dislocation or sprain, including during sports;
- soft tissue rheumatism, namely tendonitis, digmentitis, enthesopathy and others;
- various diseases of the musculoskeletal system, including rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, ostearthrosis of the spine and individual joints;
- muscle pain caused by both rheumatic and non-rheumatic causes.
The main contraindications for use
Like any other drug, the gel has its own list of contraindications, which you must familiarize yourself with before using it. It is best, of course, to consult a doctor at all. Gel "Diklak" is considered a safe tool, so the list of pathologies for which it can not be used is not too large, which is positively evaluated by patients. The main contraindication is the individual intolerance to any of the components that make up its composition. The risk group includes people suffering from hypersensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid or other non-steroidal drugs.
You can not use the gel in the presence of aspirin bronchial asthma in the patient, since its use can provoke another attack. Doctors do not recommend gel on open skin wounds, such as scratches, burns, cuts, bites or foci of urticaria. Trying to alleviate pain in this case, patients will only exacerbate the situation.
With caution, the gel should be applied during exacerbation of renal porphyria. You should use the medicine under the supervision of a doctor if the patient suffers from severe disorders of the liver and kidneys, because it is with the help of these organs that the active substance is excreted from the body. Experts do not recommend using the gel for erosive and ulcerative lesions of the stomach, bronchial asthma, as well as for chronic heart failure. In a lower dosage, the drug is prescribed for the elderly.
What side effects may appear after applying the gel?
Since the drug is applied only to the skin, adverse reactions, as a rule, arise precisely on it. At the same time, most patients easily tolerate treatment with this medication and do not observe the appearance of unpleasant symptoms. However, some people after applying Diklak gel complain of allergic reactions. Most commonly, skin rashes, such as urticaria, rash, or contact dermatitis, are diagnosed. The skin becomes dry, on it you can notice irritation, inflammation or peeling. She becomes much more sensitive to ultraviolet. In rare cases, doctors diagnose eczema, bronchospastic reactions, or even Quincke's edema.
Instructions for the use of Diklak gel
This drug is used only externally. A small amount of gel should be applied to a sore spot and gently rub it until completely absorbed. If necessary, it can be used 2-3 times a day. Squeeze out no more than 2 g of gel at a time. This is approximately 4 cm of the drug with the neck of the tube fully open. After rubbing, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Do not eat or drink water while applying the gel. If the drug enters the eyes and mucous membranes, immediately rinse them with plenty of warm water and, if possible, see a specialist. You should not warm the skin before applying the gel, as this can not only reduce its effectiveness, but also increase inflammation and swelling. The drug is completely absorbed in a short time, so putting an occlusive dressing on the affected area is also not recommended.
The drug can be taken for a long time. However, if two weeks after the start of the intake, the patient did not notice an improvement, then it is necessary to seek the advice of the attending physician.
Is an overdose possible?
The instruction for Diklak gel indicates that with external use it is almost impossible to get poisoning with the drug due to an overdose. The fact is that the active substance of the drug has an extremely low degree of absorption. If the patient or child accidentally ingested even a small amount of gel inside, then you need to induce vomiting as soon as possible and seek help from the hospital. There, the patient will usually be given symptomatic therapy until his condition improves.
Use of the gel in childhood and during pregnancy
This drug refers to a relatively safe means, so if necessary it can be used for children over 6 years old. However, the dosage of the gel should be reduced. If any allergic reaction occurs, stop using the medication and consult a doctor.
The instruction for Diklak gel indicates that the drug can be used by pregnant women in the first and second trimester. But to use it without consulting your doctor is still not worth it, so as not to harm the developing fetus. The specialist individually must also individually determine the dosage of the drug and the optimal treatment period for the pregnant woman. But in the third trimester, gel is strictly prohibited. It is not recommended to use the drug during breastfeeding. The instructions indicate that at the moment there is not enough experience in treating them during lactation. Therefore, in order not to harm the newborn, a woman should either choose a more gentle drug, or switch to artificial feeding.
Can I use the gel with other drugs?
The instructions indicate that the use of Diklak gel can be combined with almost all other drugs, since during the studies no negative reactions of the patient’s body were revealed. The only exceptions are drugs that, when taken, enhance photosensitization, that is, the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. The gel in this case can enhance their effect.
Analogs of Diklak gel
Instructions, as a rule, do not recommend patients to change one drug for its analogue without the permission of a doctor. However, many people prefer to choose non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs either on their own or with the help of a pharmacist. Indeed, in pharmacies there is a huge selection of them, so if you want, you can find an effective drug at a low price.
However, the Diklak gel also has analogues that have the same active substance in their composition. We list the main ones:
- Diclofenac
- Naklofen Duo;
- Ortofen;
- "Diklovit";
- Voltaren and some others.
Positive feedback from specialists and patients
Many people, before buying a medicine, first try to find out about the responses of patients who have already experienced it in practice. About gel "Diklak" reviews are most often found good. At the same time, both doctors and patients praise him. Experts note that this drug is an effective anti-inflammatory and analgesic. They recommend using it for diseases and injuries associated with the musculoskeletal system. At the same time, the gel is able to eliminate pain in a short time, which its analogues can not boast of. Patients confirm the words of the doctors, further noting that the drug is easily tolerated. Most of the people treated with the drug did not notice any side effects.
Another advantage of the gel is that doctors and patients call it quick absorbency, which is very convenient because it does not stain clothes. At the same time, it can be easily found in pharmacies at a low price.
Negative feedback
The negative aspects of using the drug are not described in the instructions. And reviews about Diklak gel are sometimes negative. So, patients note that the gel is much more expensive than its counterparts, for example, Diclofenac. At the same time, both drugs have an almost identical composition, and both effectively cope with pain and inflammation. People do not like the pungent smell of alcohol emanating from the gel. Doctors indicate that the drug is often not recommended for patients suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Thus, it can be said that Diklak is an effective tool for the local removal of inflammation, swelling and pain. It is easy to apply, with caution it can be used by children, pregnant women, and the elderly. And although the gel is considered a safe tool, we still recommend consulting a specialist before using it.