Can you use voltarol gel when pregnant

The use of diclofenac in pregnant women has not been studied; therefore, Voltarol Emulgel products should not be used during pregnancy. It is not known whether topical diclofenac is excreted in breast milk; therefore, Voltarol Emulgel products are also not recommended during breast-feeding. For further details regarding precautions of using products from the Voltarol range, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

If you keep active during pregnancy, evidence suggests you are less likely to experience problems in later pregnancy and labour.

Learn more about the benefits of exercise and how keeping fit can help you to stay healthy and relieve pain. Learn more about the different types of pain you might experience and discover what lies behind the pain we feel. Voltarol Back and Muscle Pain Relief 1. Do not use on children under 14 years. Therefore, it is not recommended to use these products while breastfeeding, unless advised by doctor or healthcare professional. If there are compelling reasons for using them, they should not be applied to the breasts or to large areas of skin, nor should they be used for a prolonged period.

Learn more about the benefits of exercise and how keeping fit can help you to stay healthy and relieve pain. Learn more about the different types of pain you might experience and discover what lies behind the pain we feel. All rights reserved. Glaxo Smith Kline plc. Registered in England and Wales No. February Contactus-me gsk. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember your medicine. Taking more than your prescribed dose of diclofenac tablets, capsules or suppositories can be dangerous.

It can cause side effects such as:. If you need to go to hospital, take the diclofenac packet or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine, with you. If you use too many plasters or patches or too much gel by mistake, it's unlikely to do you any harm. But if you use too much and get any side effects, tell your doctor straight away. It's safe to take diclofenac with paracetamol or codeine.

Do not take diclofenac with similar painkillers, like aspirin , ibuprofen or naproxen , without talking to a doctor. Diclofenac, aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen all belong to the same group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs. Taking diclofenac together with other NSAIDs may increase your chances of getting side effects like a stomach ache.

NSAIDs are also used in medicines you can buy from pharmacies, such as cough and cold remedies. Before taking any other medicines together with diclofenac, check the label to see if they contain ibuprofen, aspirin or other NSAIDs. Like all medicines, diclofenac can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Common side effects of diclofenac tablets, capsules and suppositories happen in more than 1 in people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away:. You're less likely to have side effects with diclofenac gel or plasters. This is because less medicine gets into your body. But you may still get the same side effects, especially if you use a lot on a large area of skin. Using diclofenac gel or plasters can affect your skin. It can make your skin:.

These serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1, people. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to diclofenac. These are not all the side effects of diclofenac.

For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. This is because diclofenac may cause problems for your unborn baby. For example it can affect your baby's circulation and it can cause you to have too little amniotic fluid surrounding your baby in the womb.

Your doctor will only advise you to take diclofenac while you're pregnant if the benefits of taking the medicine clearly outweigh the risks. There may be other treatments that are safer for you.

Paracetamol is generally the best painkiller to take during pregnancy. You can take diclofenac while breastfeeding. Only very small amounts get into breast milk which are unlikely to cause side effects in your baby. Many breastfeeding mothers have used it without any problems. If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your midwife, health visitor, pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible.

For more information about how this medicine can affect you and your baby, read this leaflet on diclofenac on the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy BUMPs website. There are some medicines that affect the way diclofenac works. Tell your doctor if you're taking:. It's not possible to say that complementary medicines or herbal remedies are safe to take with diclofenac.

They're not tested in the same way as prescription medicines or medicines sold in pharmacies. They're generally not tested for the effect they can have on other medicines. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. It works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. When you apply diclofenac gel, plasters or patches to your skin, it works in the same way as when you take it as a tablet or capsule.

But the gel, plaster or patch only works on the area you have put it on. Diclofenac takes 20 to 30 minutes to work if you take it as tablets or capsules. Suppositories take a few hours to work. There's no difference in how well the tablets, capsules or suppositories work.

The doses of diclofenac are the same for each. If you're using diclofenac gel, plasters or patches on your skin, it usually takes 1 to 2 days to work.

For arthritis, you may need to use the gel for up to 7 days on the painful joint to feel the full effect. Depending on why you're taking diclofenac, you may only need to take it for a short time. For example, if you have a sore back or toothache, you may only need to take diclofenac for 1 or 2 days. You may need to take it for longer if you have a long-term condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

If you need to take diclofenac tablets or capsules for a long time, your doctor may prescribe a medicine to protect your stomach from side effects. It's best to take the lowest dose of diclofenac for the shortest time to control your symptoms. Talk to your doctor if you're unsure how long you need to take it for. Diclofenac tablets and capsules can cause an ulcer in your stomach or gut if you take them for a long time or in big doses.

There's also a small risk of heart failure or kidney failure if you take very big doses mg a day for a long time. It's best to take the lowest dose that works for the shortest possible time. If you need to take diclofenac very often or you're taking a big dose, talk to your doctor about the best way to treat your pain.

The type of painkiller that's best depends on what type of pain you have and the cause of your pain. Ibuprofen and naproxen also belong to this group of painkillers. If you need to take an NSAID long term, your doctor or pharmacist may recommend ibuprofen or naproxen instead of diclofenac. This is because they're less likely to cause heart problems.

If NSAIDs do not get rid of your pain, you can try painkillers that you can buy from pharmacies and shops, such as paracetamol or co-codamol paracetamol combined with low-dose codeine. If the medicine you buy is not controlling your pain, your doctor may recommend additional treatment to help your pain, such as exercise or physiotherapy.

Diclofenac does not work for some types of pain, such as nerve pain. Your doctor will have to prescribe a different medicine to treat peripheral neuropathy nerve pain.

Diclofenac tablets and capsules can cause an ulcer in your stomach or gut if you take them for a long time or in big doses, or if you're elderly or in poor general health. Your doctor may tell you not to take diclofenac if you have a stomach ulcer or have had one in the past.

If you need to take diclofenac but you're at risk of getting a stomach ulcer, your doctor may prescribe another medicine for you to take alongside diclofenac to protect your stomach. It's important to take your diclofenac tablets or capsules after a meal or snack, or with a drink of milk.