VOLTAREN ARTHRITIS PAIN vs VOLTAREN-XR

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 20, 2026·How we rate

Attribute	VOLTAREN ARTHRITIS PAIN	VOLTAREN-XR
Rating	72/100	70/100
Pharmacy pays	$0.36 /mL	$0.36 /mL
Type	OTC	RX
Active ingredient	DICLOFENAC SODIUM	DICLOFENAC SODIUM
Manufacturer	Haleon US Holdings	Novartis
Dosage forms	Topical, Kit	Tablet, extended release
Drug class	Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug	Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug
Boxed warning	None	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

voltaren arthritis pain voltaren-xr

Rating

72/100

70/100

Pharmacy pays

$0.36 /mL

Type

OTC

Active ingredient

DICLOFENAC SODIUM

Manufacturer

Haleon US Holdings

Novartis

Dosage forms

Topical, 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

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Where to buy

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Frequently asked questions

Which is better-rated, Voltaren Arthritis Pain or Voltaren-XR?

By our independent rating, Voltaren Arthritis Pain 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, Voltaren Arthritis Pain or Voltaren-XR?

Pharmacies pay about the same to acquire either one — roughly $0.36 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 Voltaren Arthritis Pain and Voltaren-XR?

Both Voltaren Arthritis Pain and Voltaren-XR share the active ingredient Diclofenac Sodium, but Voltaren Arthritis Pain is sold as OTC and Voltaren-XR as RX.

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.