Complete adverse effect profile including incidence rates and management
Important Safety Information
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any unexpected symptoms. For serious or life-threatening side effects, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling: Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.1)] GI Bleeding, Ulceration and Perforation [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.2)] Hepatotoxicity [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.3)] Hypertension [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.4)] Heart Failure and Edema [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.5)] Renal Toxicity and Hyperkalemia [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.6)] Anaphylactic Reactions [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.7)] Serious Skin Reactions [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.9)] Hematologic Toxicity [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.12)] 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
Diclofenac Sodium Topical Solution The data described below reflect exposure to diclofenac sodium topical solution of 130 patients treated for 4 weeks (mean duration of 28 days) in one Phase 2 controlled trial.
This population’s mean age was approximately 60 years, 85% of patients were Caucasian, 65% were females, and all patients had primary osteoarthritis.
The most common adverse events with diclofenac sodium topical solution were application site skin reactions.
These events were the most common reason for withdrawing from the study.
Application Site Reactions: In this controlled trial, application site reactions were characterized by one or more of the following: dryness (22%), exfoliation (7%), erythema (4%), pruritus (2%), pain (2%), induration (2%), rash (2%), and scabbing (<1%).
Other Common Adverse Reactions: Table 1 lists all adverse reactions occurring in >1% of patients receiving diclofenac sodium topical solution, where the rate in the diclofenac sodium topical solution group exceeded vehicle, from a controlled study conducted in patients with osteoarthritis.
Table 1: Incidence of Adverse Reactions Occurring in >1% of Subjects with Osteoarthritis Using Diclofenac Sodium Topical Solution and More Often than in Subjects with OA Using Vehicle Control (Pooled) Adverse Reaction Diclofenac Sodium Topical Solution N=130 n (%) Vehicle Control N=129 n (%) Urinary tract infection 4 (3%) 1 (<1%) Application site induration 2 (2%) 1 (<1%) Contusion 2 (2%) 1 (<1%) Sinus congestion 2 (2%) 1 (<1%) Nausea 2 (2%) 0 Diclofenac Sodium Topical Solution 1.5% The safety of diclofenac sodium topical solution 2% is based in part, on prior experience with diclofenac sodium topical solution 1.5%.
The data described below reflect exposure to diclofenac sodium topical solution 1.5% of 911 patients treated between 4 and 12 weeks (mean duration of 49 days) in seven Phase 3 controlled trials, as well as exposure of 793 patients treated in an open-label study, including 463 patients treated for at least 6 months, and 144 patients treated for at least 12 months.
The population mean age was approximately 60 years, 89% of patients were Caucasian, 64% were females, and all patients had primary osteoarthritis.
5.1 Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events Clinical trials of several COX-2 selective and nonselective NSAIDs of up to three years duration have shown an increased risk of serious cardiovascular (CV) thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke, which can be fatal.
Based on available data, it is unclear that the risk for CV thrombotic events is similar for all NSAIDs.
The relative increase in serious CV thrombotic events over baseline conferred by NSAID use appears to be similar in those with and without known CV disease or risk factors for CV disease.
However, patients with known CV disease or risk factors had a higher absolute incidence of excess serious CV thrombotic events, due to their increased baseline rate.
Some observational studies found that this increased risk of serious CV thrombotic events began as early as the first weeks of treatment.
Like all medications, Diclofenac Sodium Topical Solution can cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes this medication will experience them. Many side effects are dose-dependent and may improve as your body adjusts to the medication. Others may require dose adjustment or medical attention.
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you experience:
Seek immediate emergency medical care if you experience signs of: