Diclofenac Sodium
Diclofenac Sodium · Say it: dye-KLOE-fen-ak SOE-dee-um
A prescription NSAID tablet used to relieve the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. It carries a boxed warning about heart attack, stroke, and stomach bleeding.
Brand names: Arthritis Pain Relieverup and up arthritis pain reliever
⬛ Boxed warning (the FDA's strongest warning)
The label has a boxed warning about two serious risks. First, NSAIDs increase the risk of serious heart and blood vessel events, including heart attack and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may happen early in treatment and may grow with longer use. The medicine is not to be used right before or after heart bypass surgery (CABG). Second, NSAIDs increase the risk of serious stomach and intestine problems, including bleeding, ulcers, and holes (perforation). These can be fatal, can happen at any time, and may occur without warning symptoms. Older adults and people with a past history of stomach ulcers or bleeding are at greater risk.
Used for
Relief of signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis
Comes as
Delayed-release tablets: 25 mg, 50 mg, and 75 mg
Common side effects
Stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea, gas, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness, Abdominal pain, dyspepsia (upset stomach), and dry mouth, Headaches, edema (swelling), itching, rashes, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
| Generic name | Diclofenac Sodium |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Arthritis Pain Reliever, up and up arthritis pain reliever |
| Type of medicine | A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). The FDA class is not listed on the label. |
| How it is sold | Delayed-release tablet (prescription) |
| Comes as | Delayed-release tablets: 25 mg, 50 mg, and 75 mg |
| Route | oral |
| Boxed warning | Yes, see below |
| Label date | 2026-02-13 |
💊 What is Diclofenac Sodium used for?
- Relief of signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis
- Relief of signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
- Acute or long-term relief of signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis
How it works
How it is usually taken
- The label says the medicine is taken in divided doses during the day. The dose and how often you take it may be adjusted after your first response to the medicine. The label says to use the lowest effective dose for the shortest time that meets your treatment goals. Follow the instructions from your prescriber or pharmacist.
Comes as
- Delayed-release tablets: 25 mg, 50 mg, and 75 mg
⚠️ Diclofenac Sodium side effects
Common side effects
- Stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea, gas, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness
- Abdominal pain, dyspepsia (upset stomach), and dry mouth
- Headaches, edema (swelling), itching, rashes, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Dizziness, drowsiness, insomnia (trouble sleeping), and nervousness
- Blurred vision and increased sweating
Get medical help right away if
- Get emergency help right away if you have shortness of breath or trouble breathing, slurred speech, chest pain, swelling of the face or throat, or weakness in one part or side of your body.
- The label says to stop taking the medicine and call your healthcare provider right away if you have nausea, vomit blood, feel more tired or weaker than usual, have blood in your bowel movement or black, sticky stools like tar, have diarrhea, unusual weight gain, itching, a skin rash or blisters with fever, yellow skin or eyes, swelling of the arms, legs, hands, or feet, or indigestion or stomach pain.
- Other serious problems the label lists include new or worse high blood pressure, heart failure, liver problems (including liver failure), kidney problems (including kidney failure), low red blood cells (anemia), life-threatening skin reactions, and life-threatening allergic reactions.
🛑 Who should not take Diclofenac Sodium, and who should be careful
The label says not to take it if
- You have had a known allergic reaction to diclofenac or any ingredient in the product.
- You have had asthma, hives, or another allergic-type reaction after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs.
- You are having, or are just before or after, heart bypass surgery (CABG).
Tell your doctor before taking it if
- Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including liver or kidney problems, high blood pressure, and asthma.
- Tell your provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
- Tell your provider about all medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
- The label says to talk with your healthcare provider before using over-the-counter NSAIDs for more than 10 days.
🔀 Diclofenac Sodium with other medicines, food and alcohol
The label says to discuss these with your doctor or pharmacist
- The label says corticosteroids, anticoagulants, SSRIs, and SNRIs raise the risk of ulcers and bleeding when taken with NSAIDs.
- The label says taking aspirin with an NSAID such as diclofenac increases the risk of serious stomach and intestine events.
- The label says NSAIDs and some other medicines can interact and cause serious side effects. Do not start any new medicine without talking to your healthcare provider first.
Alcohol and food
The label lists drinking alcohol as a risk factor for ulcers and bleeding from NSAIDs. The label text provided does not give specific instructions about food.
🤰 Diclofenac Sodium in pregnancy and breastfeeding
Pregnancy
The label says taking NSAIDs at about 20 weeks of pregnancy or later may harm the unborn baby. If you need an NSAID for more than 2 days between 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy, your provider may need to monitor the amount of fluid around the baby. The label says you should not take NSAIDs after about 30 weeks of pregnancy.
Breastfeeding
The label tells people who are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed to tell their healthcare provider. The label does not give further details in the text provided.
🗓️ Storage, missed doses and taking too much
Storage
The label says to store the tablets at room temperature, between 20°C and 25°C (68°F and 77°F), with brief changes allowed between 15°C and 30°C (59°F and 86°F). The label also mentions keeping the tablets in a tight container.
If a dose is missed
The label does not say.
If too much is taken
The label says that after an overdose, symptoms have usually included lethargy, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain, which were generally reversible with supportive care. Stomach bleeding has occurred. Rarer effects include high blood pressure, acute kidney failure, slowed breathing, and coma. There are no specific antidotes, so treatment is supportive. The Medication Guide says that if you take too much, call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away.
🗒️ Questions to ask about Diclofenac Sodium
🎯 Check what you understood
1. According to the boxed warning, which of these can NSAIDs cause?
2. What does the label say about taking this medicine during pregnancy?
3. What does the label say to do with over-the-counter NSAIDs for longer periods?
❓ Diclofenac Sodium: frequently asked questions
What is diclofenac sodium used for?
The label says it is used to relieve the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. It is an NSAID.
What is the most serious warning for this medicine?
The boxed warning says NSAIDs can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and serious stomach or intestine bleeding, which can be fatal. These can happen without warning symptoms.
Can I take aspirin with diclofenac sodium?
The label says taking aspirin with an NSAID such as diclofenac increases the risk of serious stomach and intestine events. Talk with your healthcare provider before combining them.
What should I do if I take too much?
The label says to call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away. It also says there are no specific antidotes, so treatment is supportive.
Can this medicine be used for something it was not prescribed for?
The Medication Guide says not to use NSAIDs for a condition they were not prescribed for, and not to give them to other people, even if they have the same symptoms.
🧪 Tests and reports linked to Diclofenac Sodium
The label text mentions these. If you have one of these reports, get every line of it explained.
- Kidney function tests
a test or report linked to this medicine
- Metabolic panel (BMP, CMP)
a test or report linked to this medicine
- Clotting tests (PT, INR)
a test or report linked to this medicine
- Complete blood count (CBC)
a test or report linked to this medicine
- Liver function tests
a test or report linked to this medicine
- ECG (EKG) reports
a test or report linked to this medicine
📖 Medical words used on this page
- Acute vs chronic
Acute means something started recently or suddenly. Chronic means it has lasted a long time or keeps coming back.
- Allergic reaction
An allergic reaction is when the immune system overreacts to something harmless, such as a medicine or food, causing symptoms from a rash to swelling.
- Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe, whole-body allergic reaction that comes on fast and is a medical emergency needing urgent help.
- Anemia
Anemia means the blood has fewer healthy red blood cells or less hemoglobin than the reference range printed on the report.
- Angina
Angina is chest pain or tightness caused by the heart muscle not getting enough blood and oxygen, usually from narrowed heart arteries.
- Ankylosing spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is a long-term inflammatory arthritis that mainly affects the spine and the joints where the spine meets the pelvis.
- Anticoagulant
An anticoagulant is a medicine that slows blood clotting, used to prevent or treat harmful clots. It raises the risk of bleeding.
- Antiplatelet
An antiplatelet is a medicine, such as aspirin or clopidogrel, that stops platelets clumping together to form clots in arteries.
- Boxed warning
A boxed warning is the strongest safety warning on a US medicine label, printed in a box, about a serious or life-threatening risk.
- Bronchodilator
A bronchodilator is a medicine that relaxes the muscles around the airways so they open wider and breathing becomes easier.
- Bronchospastic Disease
Bronchospastic disease means a lung condition, such as asthma, in which the airways tend to tighten suddenly (bronchospasm).
- Corticosteroid
A corticosteroid is a medicine similar to the body's own hormone cortisol, used to reduce inflammation and calm the immune system.
- Edema
Edema is swelling caused by extra fluid trapped in the body's tissues, often in the feet, ankles and legs.
- Heart failure
Heart failure means the heart is not pumping or filling as well as it should, so it struggles to meet the body's needs. It does not mean the heart has stopped.
📖 Medical words on this page
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Have the leaflet or prescription in front of you?
Explain my leafletDecode my prescription🔗 Trusted sources about Diclofenac Sodium
- Full official label on DailyMed ↗
US National Library of Medicine: the complete FDA label this page is based on
- Diclofenac Sodium on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine's patient drug information
- Diclofenac Sodium on the NHS website ↗
UK National Health Service medicine guide
Report a side effect or check safety alerts
- Report a side effect in the US (FDA MedWatch) ↗
- Report a side effect in the UK (Yellow Card) ↗
- FDA recalls and safety alerts ↗
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🧩 Similar medicines
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Source: official FDA drug label (label updated 2026-02-13). Read the full label on DailyMed
MedicDecode explains the official label in plain words. It is not medical advice and does not replace your doctor or pharmacist. Never start, stop or change a medicine because of what you read here.