Greer, MD, president of Arthritis and Rheumatology Associates of Palm Beach and affiliate clinical professor of biomedical sciences at Florida Atlantic University. Voltaren gel is as good if not better than other OTC topical arthritis pain products, says Jonathan M. “Voltaren gel works locally, as opposed to systemically, which helps reduce the sometimes problematic side effects associated with oral NSAIDs, including gastrointestinal and/or kidney problems,” says Rachel Frank, MD, an orthopedic sports medicine physician with UCHealth and director of the Joint Preservation Program at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
#Knee pain cream voltaren skin
A topical treatment, such as Voltaren gel, is applied to the skin near the area that’s causing arthritis symptoms like pain and stiffness. When you swallow a pill, it must travel through your digestive tract and through your bloodstream before it can reach the intended target, such as a painful joint. How is the topical form different than taking an NSAID pill, like ibuprofen? The new OTC version of Voltaren gel will contain 1% of the active ingredient, diclofenac, which is the same strength that previously required a prescription.
#Knee pain cream voltaren how to
The manufacturer must show that consumers can understand how to use the drug safely and effectively without the supervision of a health care professional.” Is there any difference between the prescription version of Voltaren and the OTC version? Many other drugs that used to be prescription-only - from nicotine patches for smoking cessation to allergy meds like loratadine (Claritin) - have made a similar transition over the years.Īccording to the FDA, “for a drug to switch to nonprescription status, the data provided must demonstrate that the drug is safe and effective for use in self-medication as directed in proposed labeling. This change in Voltaten’s status comes thanks to the FDA’s Rx-to-OTC Switch Process, which occurs when the agency decides that a prescription-only drug is safe and easy enough for consumers to use on their own. Why is Voltaren available over the counter all of a sudden? It has been available by prescription since 2007, but the FDA just gave the manufacturer the green light to sell it (under the name Voltaren Arthritis Pain) over the counter. Voltaren gel, which is the form that is applied topically (to the skin), is most useful for osteoarthritis of the knees and hands. The oral version of this drug is still available only by prescription. When taken in oral form, it’s used to treat pain related to such forms of arthritis as osteoarthrtis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Like other NSAIDs, Voltaren (diclofenac) works by reducing inflammation in the body. Here are some FAQs about this drug and what the change to an OTC availability means for arthritis patients and CreakyJoints members.
It was previously available by prescription only. Voltaren Arthritis Pain (diclofenac sodium topical gel, 1%), was just granted over the counter (OTC) status by the FDA. A new topical pain reliever is headed to drugstore shelves, and this one contains a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is similar to ibuprofen.
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