DICLOFENAC SODIUM vs RUFEN

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 21, 2026·How we rate

Possible drug interaction. DICLOFENAC SODIUM and RUFEN are different prescription medicines. Combining or switching between them can cause interactions — talk to a pharmacist or prescriber before making changes. This page is not medical advice.

Attribute	DICLOFENAC SODIUM	RUFEN
Rating	70/100	70/100
Pharmacy pays	$0.36 /mL	$0.04 /mL
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	DICLOFENAC SODIUM	IBUPROFEN
Manufacturer	Amneal	Basf
Dosage forms	Solution, Drops, Topical, Tablet, delayed release, Tablet, extended release, Tablet, Kit	Tablet
Drug class	Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug	Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug
Boxed warning	Boxed warning	None
Half-life	about 2 hours (terminal/elimination half-life; the label's table gives a mean of 2.3 hours in healthy adults, with wide variation between people — 48% coefficient of variation)	about 1.8 to 2.0 hours
Treats	Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dysmenorrhea	Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis

diclofenac sodium rufen

Rating

70/100

Pharmacy pays

$0.36 /mL

$0.04 /mL

Type

Active ingredient

DICLOFENAC SODIUM

IBUPROFEN

Manufacturer

Amneal

Basf

Dosage forms

Solution, Drops, Topical, Tablet, delayed release, Tablet, extended release, Tablet, Kit

Tablet

Drug class

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug

Boxed warning

None

Half-life

about 2 hours (terminal/elimination half-life; the label's table gives a mean of 2.3 hours in healthy adults, with wide variation between people — 48% coefficient of variation)

about 1.8 to 2.0 hours

Treats

Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dysmenorrhea

Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis

Frequently asked questions

Which is better-rated, Diclofenac Sodium or Rufen?

Diclofenac Sodium and Rufen are tied at 3.5 out of 5 by our independent rating.

Which is cheaper, Diclofenac Sodium or Rufen?

Rufen costs pharmacies less to acquire — about $0.04 vs $0.36 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. That gap is in the pharmacy's cost of goods, not necessarily in what you pay: your price is set afterwards by your insurer and the pharmacy.

What is the difference between Diclofenac Sodium and Rufen?

Diclofenac Sodium contains Diclofenac Sodium, while Rufen contains Ibuprofen — they have different active ingredients.

Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data. This comparison is for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional before choosing or switching a medication.