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Voltaren(R) Rapid

CLICK TO BUY VOLTAREN RAPID TABLETS 50MG (Pack of 20)

diclofenac potassium
Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about Voltaren Rapid.

It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking this medicine against the benefits they expect it will provide.

If you have any concerns about this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet with the medicine.

You may need to read it again.

What Voltaren Rapid is used for

Voltaren Rapid relieves pain and reduces inflammation (swelling and redness). It is used for:

the relief of migraine headaches. It may also relieve nausea and vomiting you sometimes experience when you have a migraine.
the relief of menstrual cramps (period pain).
the short-term treatment (up to 1 week) of other painful conditions where swelling is a problem such as back or joint pain, dental pain, muscle strains or sprains and tendonitis (e.g. tennis elbow).

Voltaren Rapid belongs to a family of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These medicines can relieve the symptoms of pain and inflammation but they will not cure your condition.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.

Your doctor may have prescribed it for another purpose.

Voltaren Rapid is only available with a doctor`s prescription. It is not addictive.

There is not enough information to recommend this medicine for children under 14 years of age.

Before you take Voltaren Rapid

When you must not take it

Do not take Voltaren Rapid if you have ever had an allergy to:

diclofenac (the active ingredient in Voltaren Rapid) or any of the other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
other medicines containing diclofenac (e.g. Voltaren tablets or suppositories, Voltaren Emulgel)
aspirin
any other NSAID medicine

If you are not sure if you are taking any of the above medicines, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.

Many medicines used to treat headache, period pain and other aches and pains contain aspirin or NSAID medicines. If you are allergic to aspirin or NSAID medicines and you take Voltaren Rapid, these symptoms may be severe.

Do not take Voltaren Rapid if you have the any of the following medical conditions:

an ulcer (gastric or duodenal)
bleeding from the stomach or bowel
severe kidney or liver problems
severe heart failure

Do not take Voltaren Rapid during the last three months of pregnancy.

Use of this medicine during the last 3 months of pregnancy may affect your baby and may delay labour and birth.

Do not take Voltaren Rapid after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

In that case, return it to your pharmacist.

Before you start to take it

Tell your doctor if you have any of the following health problems / medical conditions:

heart problems
a history of high blood pressure
a past history of ulcers (gastric or duodenal), severe attacks of indigestion or other stomach trouble, or diseases of the bowel (e.g. Crohn`s disease, ulcerative colitis)
kidney problems
liver problems
a tendency to bleed or other blood problems such as anaemia
asthma or any other chronic lung disease that causes difficulty in breathing
seasonal allergies (e.g. hay fever)
repeated chest infections
polyps in the nose
diabetes
recent major surgery

Your doctor may want to take special precautions if you have any of the above conditions.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.

There is not enough information to recommend the use of Voltaren Rapid during the first 6 months of pregnancy and it must not be used during the last 3 months. Voltaren Rapid may also reduce fertility and affect your chances of becoming pregnant. Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.

Tell your doctor if you currently have an infection.

If you take Voltaren Rapid while you have an infection, some of the signs of the infection such as pain, fever, swelling and redness may be hidden. You may think, mistakenly, that you are better or that the infection is not serious.

Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

Breast-feeding is not recommended while you are using this medicine. The active ingredient in Voltaren Rapid passes into breast milk and may affect your baby.

Tell your doctor if you are fructose intolerant.

This medicine contains sucrose, which is converted by the liver to fructose.

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.

Your doctor will want to know if you are prone to allergies, especially if you get skin reactions with redness, itching or rash.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines that are important to mention include:

aspirin, salicylates or other NSAID medicines
warfarin, a medicine used to stop blood clots
digoxin, a medicine for your heart
lithium or selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), medicines used to treat some types of depression
diuretics, also called fluid or water tablets
ACE inhibitors or beta-blockers, medicines used to treat high blood pressure, heart conditions, glaucoma and migraine
Corticosteroids, medicines such as prednisone and cortisone, which reduce the activity of your immune system
tablets used to treat diabetes
methotrexate, a medicine used to treat arthritis and some cancers
cyclosporin, a medicine used to suppress the immune system
certain antibiotics called quinolones
glucocorticoid medicines, used to treat arthritis

You may need to take different amounts of your medicines or to take different medicines while you are taking Voltaren Rapid. Your doctor and pharmacist have more information.

If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell him/her before you start taking this medicine.

How to take Voltaren Rapid

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.

These instructions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

If you do not understand the instructions on the label, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How much to take

Voltaren Rapid comes in 50 mg tablets.

For migraine, the usual dose is 50 mg (one tablet) at the first sign of an attack. If the pain is not relieved within 2 hours, another tablet can be taken. After that, you must wait at least 4 hours before taking any more Voltaren Rapid.

Do not take more than 200 mg (4 tablets) in 24 hours even if you have more than one migraine attack within that 24 hour period.

For menstrual cramps (period pain), the usual dose is 50 mg to 100 mg (1 to 2 tablets) beginning as soon as symptoms start. This is usually followed by 1 tablet three times each day until the pain goes away.

For other painful conditions, the usual dose is 100 mg to 150 mg (2 to 3 tablets) each day. In milder cases, as well as in children over 14 years old, 75 mg to 100 mg each day is usually enough.

How to take it

Voltaren Rapid tablets are usually taken in 2 or 3 doses during the day.

Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water. Do not break them or chew them.

Take the tablets preferably before meals. If they upset your stomach, you can take them with food or immediately after food.

They will work more quickly if you take them on an empty stomach but they will still work if you have to take them with food to prevent stomach upset.

How long to take it

Do not take Voltaren Rapid for longer than your doctor says.

It is usually taken for a short time only (up to one week) but it may be prescribed on repeated occasions, depending on your condition. For menstrual cramps (period pain), the tablets are usually taken during each period as soon as cramps begin and continued for a few days until the pain goes away.

If you forget to take it

If it is almost time for your next dose (e.g. within 2 or 3 hours), skip the dose you missed and take the next dose when you are meant to.

Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking it as you would normally.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the one that you missed.

This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.

If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you take too much (Overdose)

Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Voltaren Rapid. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. Keep the telephone numbers for these places handy.

If you take too much Voltaren Rapid, you may have:

vomiting, bleeding from the stomach or bowel, diarrhoea, dizziness, ringing in the ears, convulsions (fits)

While you are taking Voltaren Rapid

Things you must do

If you become pregnant while taking Voltaren Rapid, tell your doctor immediately.

Your doctor can discuss with you the risks of taking it while you are pregnant.

Be sure to keep all of your doctor`s appointments so that your progress can be checked.

Your doctor may want to check your kidneys, liver and blood from time to time to help prevent unwanted side effects.

If you are going to have surgery, make sure the surgeon and anaesthetist know that you are taking Voltaren Rapid.

NSAID medicines can slow down blood clotting and affect kidney function.

If you get an infection while taking Voltaren Rapid, tell your doctor.

This medicine may hide some of the signs of an infection (pain, fever, swelling, redness). You may think, mistakenly, that you are better or that the infection is not serious.

If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Voltaren Rapid.

Tell any other doctor, dentist or pharmacist who treats you that you are taking Voltaren Rapid.

Things you must not do

Do not take any of the following medicines while you are taking Voltaren Rapid without first telling your doctor:

aspirin (also called ASA or acetylsalicylic acid)
other salicylates
other medicines containing diclofenac (e.g. Voltaren tablets or suppositories, Voltaren Emulgel)
any other NSAID medicine

If you take these medicines together with Voltaren Rapid, they may cause unwanted side effects.

If you need to take something for headache or fever, it is usually okay to take paracetamol. If you are not sure, your doctor or pharmacist can advise you.

Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their condition seems similar to yours.

Do not use it to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.

Things to be careful of

Be careful driving, operating machinery or doing jobs that require you to be alert until you know how Voltaren Rapid affects you.

This medicine may cause dizziness, drowsiness, spinning sensation (vertigo) or blurred vision in some people. If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Voltaren Rapid.

All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

If you are over 65 years old, you should be especially careful while taking this medicine. Report any side effects promptly to your doctor.

As people grow older, they are more likely to get side effects from medicines.

Do not be alarmed by these lists of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

stomach upset including nausea (feeling sick), vomiting, indigestion, cramps, loss of appetite, wind
constipation, diarrhoea
sore mouth or tongue
altered taste sensation
headache
dizziness, spinning sensation
drowsiness, disorientation, forgetfulness
feeling depressed, anxious or irritable
strange or disturbing thoughts or moods
shakiness, sleeplessness, nightmares
tingling or numbness of the hands or feet
feeling of fast or irregular heart beat
unusual weight gain or swelling of ankles or legs due to fluid buildup
symptoms of sunburn (such as redness, itching, swelling, blistering) that happen more quickly than normal
blurred or double vision
buzzing or ringing in the ears, difficulty hearing
hair loss or thinning

If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:

signs of a possible stomach problem, such as severe pain or tenderness in the stomach, vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, bleeding from the back passage, black sticky bowel motions (stools) or bloody diarrhoea
signs of allergy such as rash, itching or hives on the skin; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other part of the body; shortness of breath, wheezing or troubled breathing
signs of a possible liver problem such as persistent nausea, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness, vomiting, pain in the upper right abdomen, yellowing of the skin and/or eyes, dark urine or pale bowel motions
signs of a possible blood problem such as constant “flu-like” symptoms (chills, fever, sore throat, aching joints, swollen glands, tiredness or lack of energy), bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
signs of a serious skin reaction such as painful red areas, large blisters, peeling of layers of skin, bleeding in the lips, eyes, mouth, nose or genitals. These signs may be accompanied by fever and chills, aching muscles and feeling generally unwell.
signs of a possible effect on the brain, such as sudden and severe headache, stiff neck, severe nausea, dizziness, numbness, difficulty in speaking, paralysis, convulsions (fits)
a change in the colour or amount of urine passed, frequent need to urinate, burning feeling when passing urine, blood in the urine
chest pain, which may be a sign of a heart attack

Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.

Some people may have other side effects not yet known or mentioned in this leaflet.

After using Voltaren Rapid

Storage

Keep your medicine in the original container until it is time to take it.
Store it in a cool dry place.
Do not store Voltaren Rapid or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it in the car or on windowsills.

Keep the medicine where children cannot reach it.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop taking Voltaren Rapid or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine you have left over.

Product description

What it looks like

Voltaren Rapid 50 mg tablets are reddish-brown sugar-coated tablets marked in white with “CG” on one side and “PP” on the other side; blister packs of 20 tablets.

Ingredients

Voltaren Rapid tablets contain 50 mg diclofenac potassium as the active ingredient. They also contain:

silica colloidal anhydrous
calcium phosphate
magnesium stearate
maize starch
povidone
sodium starch glycollate
microcrystalline cellulose
iron oxide red CI77491
macrogol 8000
sucrose
purified talc
titanium dioxide

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Voltaren Rapid Diclofenac 50mg Tablets (Pack of 20)