DICLOFENAC SODIUM vs VOLTAREN-XR

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated October 8, 2026·How we rate

Attribute	DICLOFENAC SODIUM	VOLTAREN-XR
Rating	72/100	70/100
Pharmacy pays	$0.37 /mL	$0.37 /mL
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	DICLOFENAC SODIUM	DICLOFENAC SODIUM
Manufacturer	Amneal	Novartis
Dosage forms	Solution, Drops, Topical, Tablet, delayed release, Tablet, extended release, Tablet, Kit	Tablet, extended release
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 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)
Treats	Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dysmenorrhea	Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dysmenorrhea

diclofenac sodium voltaren-xr

Rating

72/100

70/100

Pharmacy pays

$0.37 /mL

Type

Active ingredient

DICLOFENAC SODIUM

Manufacturer

Amneal

Novartis

Dosage forms

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

Tablet, extended release

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)

Treats

Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dysmenorrhea

Frequently asked questions

Which is better-rated, Diclofenac Sodium or Voltaren-XR?

By our independent rating, Diclofenac Sodium scores higher — 3.6 vs 3.5 out of 5 for Voltaren-XR. Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data.

Which is cheaper, Diclofenac Sodium or Voltaren-XR?

Pharmacies pay about the same to acquire either one — roughly $0.37 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. That is not what you will be charged: your price is set by your insurer and the pharmacy, not by what the drug cost them.

What is the difference between Diclofenac Sodium and Voltaren-XR?

Both Diclofenac Sodium and Voltaren-XR share the active ingredient Diclofenac Sodium.

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.