voltaren

How long does Diclofenac Sodium stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of diclofenac sodium is 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) — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. This is the terminal (elimination) half-life of unchanged diclofenac, as the label labels it — "Terminal Half-life (hr) 2.3" in the PK table, and in the text "the terminal half-life of unchanged diclofenac is approximately 2 hours." Diclofenac is not a prodrug, and it has no active metabolite that outlasts it: the label names five metabolites and says the major one, 4'-hydroxy-diclofenac, has "very weak pharmacologic activity," so the parent's ~2-hour half-life is what governs. (The related diclofenac/misoprostol label notes one additional urinary metabolite with an 80-hour half-life, but it accounts for only ~1.4% of the dose.) Populations the label names: kidney impairment — no dose adjustment for mild-to-moderate impairment; in subjects with inulin clearance 60-90, 30-60 and <30 mL/min, AUC and elimination rate were comparable to healthy subjects. Liver impairment — hepatic metabolism accounts for almost 100% of diclofenac elimination, so patients with liver disease may need reduced doses; the label does not give a revised half-life number. This label reports no pharmacokinetic study in older adults or in children; the diclofenac/misoprostol label found no PK differences in subjects aged 66-81 versus younger adults. Half-life describes how the drug leaves plasma. It is not a detection window (metabolites are detectable far longer) and not dosing guidance.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: DailyMed — DICLOFENAC SODIUM tablet, delayed release (FDA label, Clinical Pharmacology / Pharmacokinetics).

Frequently asked questions

What does Voltaren treat?

Voltaren (Diclofenac Sodium) may be used to treat juvenile arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, dysmenorrhea, inflammation, keratosis, osteoarthritis, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.

How does Voltaren work?

Voltaren is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. NSAIDs block cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes that your body uses to make prostaglandins, the chemicals behind pain, swelling, and fever. Lowering prostaglandins eases pain and inflammation and brings down a high temperature.

How is Voltaren rated?

pharmaranks gives Voltaren a composite score of 3.5 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.

How much does Voltaren cost?

Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $0.36 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins. Pharmacies pay less for a same-class option, Advil — about $0.04 on the same basis.

Is there a coupon or discount for Voltaren?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Voltaren. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.

Who makes Voltaren?

Voltaren is marketed by Novartis. You can see Novartis's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Voltaren a brand-name or generic drug?

Voltaren is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Diclofenac Sodium. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Diclofenac Sodium are available — ask your pharmacist.

Is Voltaren available over the counter?

No. Voltaren is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.

What forms does Voltaren come in?

Voltaren is currently marketed as tablet, delayed release, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.

What class of drug is Voltaren?

Voltaren is classified as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.

Is Voltaren FDA-registered?

Voltaren is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA020037. You can verify this on its official FDA label.

Has Voltaren been recalled by the FDA?

Voltaren has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.

Is Voltaren safe?

There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Voltaren a recall-safety score of 70/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.