Side Effects Of Diclofenac

Like all medicines, diclofenac can cause side effects in some people, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones.

Side effects usually improve as your body gets used to the medicine.

Common side effects of diclofenac

These common side effects of diclofenac tablets, capsules and suppositories happen in more than 1 in 100 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

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 side effects, especially if you use a lot on a large area of skin.

There are things you can do to help cope with them:

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.

Serious side effects

These serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people.

Call your doctor or call 111 straight away if:

• you have black poo - this could be a sign of bleeding in your stomach or gut
• you have severe indigestion, heartburn or stomach pain, vomiting or diarrhoea - these can be signs of an ulcer or inflammation in your stomach or gut
• the whites of your eyes or your skin turn yellow, although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin - this can be a sign of liver problems
• you have a raised, itchy rash, or swollen or puffy skin - these can be signs of hives (urticaria) or oedema (swelling)
• you have breathlessness, tiredness and swollen legs or ankles - these can be signs of heart failure

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

Call 999 if:

Do not drive yourself to A&E.

The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.

Serious allergic reaction

It's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to diclofenac.

Call 999 now if:

• your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
• you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
• your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
• your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
• you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
• someone faints and cannot be woken up
• a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.

These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

Long-term side effects

Diclofenac tablets and capsules can cause an ulcer in your stomach if you take them for a long time or in large doses, or if you're older or in poor general health.

If you have a stomach ulcer or have ever had one, you may not be able to take diclofenac tablets or capsules. Your doctor will prescribe another medicine.

There's also a small risk of heart failure or kidney failure if you take the maximum dose (150mg a day) for a long time.

It's best to take the lowest dose that works for the shortest possible time.

Other side effects

These are not all the side effects of diclofenac. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

Reporting side effects

You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.

Visit the Yellow Card website for more information about reporting side effects.

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