Aspercreme® Arthritis is a new topical gel with diclofenac. This prescription-strength pain reliever is now available over the counter.
Opinions differ on the effectiveness of over-the-counter topical pain medications. While many people say these products help relieve their arthritis pain, scientific research reveals only modest benefits. Some products work only slightly or no better than a placebo in relieving arthritis pain.
Voltaren helps alleviate joint pain due to arthritis in the hands, wrists, elbows, feet, ankles, and knees. Apply Voltaren gel to the skin over the affected part of the body.
Voltaren contains an effective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine which is clinically proven to relieve arthritis joint pain. With 4-times-a-day use, you may start to feel relief within a few days. You should feel significant pain relief within 7 days of continuous use.
For example, you should not use Voltaren: If you have any heart issues or are at risk for adverse events such as heart attack and stroke. If you have allergies to this drug or other pain or fever aids such as aspirin. Before or after heart surgery4.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
NSAIDs are the most effective oral medicines for OA. They include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) naproxen (Aleve) and diclofenac (Voltaren, others). All work by blocking enzymes that cause pain and swelling.
Topical NSAIDs (such as Feldene Gel, Orudis Gel, Nurofen Gel, Dencorub Anti-inflammatory Gel and Voltaren Osteo Gel) are creams or gels that are usually used for muscular aches and pains. Topical NSAIDs can help provide some relief from osteoarthritis pain in the short term (up to 10 days).
Yes. In addition to treating muscle pain, Tiger Balm is helpful in relieving other types of pain, including back pain, joint pain, arthritis pain, and sprains.
Over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) can help relieve occasional pain triggered by activity your muscles and joints aren't used to — such as gardening after a winter indoors.
Nonprescription (over the counter) topical diclofenac comes as a 1% gel (Voltaren Arthritis Pain) to apply to up to 2 body areas (e.g., 1 knee and 1 ankle, 2 knees, 1 foot and 1 ankle, or 2 hands) 4 times daily for up to 21 days or as recommended by your doctor.
Like other NSAIDs, Voltaren (diclofenac) works by reducing inflammation in the body. When taken in oral form, it's used to treat pain related to such forms of arthritis as osteoarthrtis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. The oral version of this drug is still available only by prescription.
It doesn't take long for Voltaren to get to work. For neck pain relief, for instance, a study shows that Voltaren reduces the pain felt upon movement, after just one hour of application; and that it cuts pain in half within 24 hours.
When will I feel better? Diclofenac takes 20 to 30 minutes to work if you take it as tablets or capsules.
For osteoarthritis of the knees, ankles, or feet using Voltaren® 1% gel: Adults—Apply 4 grams (g) to the affected skin areas four times a day (a total of 16 g each day). However, the total dose should not exceed 32 g per day over all affected joints. Use the enclosed dosing card to measure the appropriate dose.
Voltaren may interact with antidepressants, blood thinners, cyclosporine, isoniazid, lithium, methotrexate, pronbenecid, rifampin, secobarbital, sertraline, sulfamethoxazole, teniposide, zafirlukast, diuretics (water pills), steroids, antifungal medications, aspirin or other NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ...
It's a potent medication that is very effective for many people and is often used for arthritis pain. For superficial joints – like hands, wrists and even knees – it can be very effective. However, the joints of the cervical spine in the neck, and most of the shoulder joint, are deeper than the Voltaren can penetrate.
It has not been studied for use in the hips or spine. You should not use Voltaren gel to treat muscle pain in other areas of the body, such as the lower back.
Roach: Since topical applications of creams like Voltaren or Aspercream are absorbed into the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body, and do not go directly to the site of pain, is there an advantage to using them over oral NSAIDs?
While using this product: Do not use for more than 3 days at a time unless a doctor has told you to.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (including diclofenac) may rarely increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. This effect can happen at any time while taking this drug but is more likely if you take it for a long time.