Dosage For Actinic Keratoses
Generic: Diclofenac
- Strengths: 1%
Adult dosage
- Diclofenac gel is usually applied four times per day to the affected area. The dosing card included in the drug package should be used to measure the proper amount of gel to apply to painful joints.
- No more than 8 gm per day should be used for any single joint of the hand, wrist, elbow.
- No more than 16 gm per day should be used for any single joint of the knee, ankle or foot.
- The total dosage of diclofenac gel shouldnt be more than 32 gm per day, over all affected joints.
Child dosage
Dosage for people younger than 18 years hasnt been established.
Acute Gout Flares: What Else You Can Do
While your prescription gout medication should quickly treat your joint pain, swelling and redness, there are things you can do on your own in addition to taking your medicine:
Ice it. Treat your swollen joint with topical ice for a short period of time if you need a little extra relief. Ice can ease pain and swelling. Wrap ice or an ice pack in a soft towel or cloth before placing it on your skin. Dont place ice directly onto your joint, even if its inside a plastic bag.
Elevate it. If your big toe or foot is affected, prop it up on pillows while you rest on the sofa. Keep your joint elevated above the level of your heart for the best effect.
Give it a rest. Its OK to take it easy for a day or two while your symptoms are at their worst. Rest if you can. Try not to use your affected joint until your medications can reduce the inflammation. Gout flares often get worse if you try to ignore them and stress your affected joint.
To Use Topical Diclofenac 15 % Topical Solution Follow These Steps:
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Research And Statistics: How Prevalent Is Gout In The United States
Research published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology found that gout rates in the United States have been climbing steadily over the past 50 years, likely because of increases in obesity and high blood pressure.
Gout is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis among men. Its more common in men than women. About 6 percent of men in the United States have gout, while only about 2 percent of women have it. Women rarely develop gout before reaching menopause.
Gout is rare in children and young adults.
Have A Medication Action Plan To Manage Acute Gout Attacks
- Make sure you have a supply of medications to treat a gout attack if it occurs.
- If you feel a gout attack starting, take this medication as soon as possible to prevent it becoming very severe.
- If you are on uric lowering tablets, do NOT stop these when you get a gout attack. Keep taking them as well as your pain medication.
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Medication Options For Uric Acid Lowering
It is important to note that whenever starting a uric acid lowering treatment, there is a risk of precipitating a gout flare. A plan should be in place for management if this occurs. This generally can be avoided with the co-administration of prophylactic medications along with the uric acid lowering therapy.
Probenecid
Probenecid may be given to patients with decreased clearance of uric acid by the kidney and normal renal function. In general its use should be limited to patients under the age of 60. Probenecid acts by inhibiting reabsorption of uric acid in the proximal tubules of the kidney. Starting dose is at 500 mg to 1000 mg daily and increased to 1500 mg to 2000 mg as needed. Occasionally higher doses are needed. Probenecid may precipitate renal stone formation and good oral hydration should be encouraged. Probenecid is contraindicated in patients with renal stones and in patients with urate nephropathy. Probenecid given inappropriately to patients with hyperuricemia due to overproduction of uric acid can cause renal stones and urate nephropathy.
- uricosuric
- useful in patients with decreased renal clearance of uric acid
- can only be used if creatinine clearance > 40 cc/min
- must have 24 hour urine for uric acid < 800 mg/dl
- can be used in renal failure
- increased risk of renal stones
Allopurinol
Pegloticase
- pegylated porcine uricase
Taking Diclofenac With Other Painkillers
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 . 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.
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Diclofenac: How Effective It Is For Gout
The sense of urgency that the attacks coming from gout seldom fails in gaining the attention that it needs. Well, I guess nobody would want to suffer from any of the lingering pain and inflammation that it causes for a long period of time. In any case, it is not me and not you, of course. Because of this particular reason, the faster the medicine, the better it is for those who suffer from gout. The second of the norms of the medication for gout is going to be the effectiveness. Who would want a fast medicine that cannot even do a thing, right?
In this article, you will get to know about diclofenac and how it is used in treating gout. What is the proper dosage of it? Does it really work for gout? Find out the answers to these questions below. So what are you waiting for, give this article a read now!
Before we get to the answers to our questions, let us first define what diclofenac really means.
Alternative And Complementary Therapies
Many complementary and alternative medicine approaches for managing gout focus on diet, weight loss, and exercise.
Your risk of gout goes up when your diet is high in naturally occurring compounds called purines. When purines break down in the body, they cause uric acid to form. In most cases, people who have gout will still need medication even when they follow a diet for gout. That said, tweaking your diet can be a powerful way to help manage gout and gout symptoms. Some research suggests that food changes alone can lower your uric acid levels by up to 15 percent, according to the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.
The main principles of a gout diet are basically the same as those of any healthy diet: Reduce calorie consumption if you are overweight opt for unrefined carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains limit your intake of sugar, organ meats , and saturated fats.
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Is Diclofenac Or Ibuprofen More Effective
Diclofenac needs a prescription by your healthcare provider and is considered a more potent NSAID than ibuprofen. For arthritis, diclofenac is usually dosed as 25 to 50 mg up to a daily dose of 150 mg. Ibuprofen is prescribed at higher doses of 800 mg up to a daily dose of 3200 mg.
In a meta-analysis from the Journal of Arthritis Research and Therapy, diclofenac was found to be more effective than ibuprofen for arthritic pain relief. The study reviewed data from 176 studies with over 146,524 patients. The risk of stomach-related effects were also found to be lower with diclofenac compared to ibuprofen. Diclofenac was found to be more effective when compared to other NSAIDs like celecoxib and naproxen.
Both diclofenac and ibuprofen are comparable in appropriate doses. Discuss your treatment options with your doctor as one might work better for you.
What Happens If Gout Is Left Untreated
If gout is not treated, it can cause permanent damage to your joints and harm your kidneys. Attacks will happen again and more joints will be affected. Lumps can grow on your elbows, hands and feet. The lumps can become sore and swollen and they may cause skin ulcers. The natural padding between the bones will start to wear away and the joints will become sore and stiff. Kidney stones can form and cause pain and damage to your kidneys.
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Diclofenac: Is It Effective For Gout
There is no doubt that diclofenac is very effective in eliminating migraine and headache. But there is a doubt when it comes to treating gout. As we all know, gout is very far from a headache. Well, in the actual fact, in comparison to some other Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs or NSAIDs, the diclofenac performs better in treating gout. Maybe it is a bit slower than the others, but at least, it has lesser side effects.
Do you also wonder what happens to the diclofenac once it enters the body? Well, lets see!
Who Gets Gout Gout Risk Factors
Gout happens when too much uric acid builds up in the body. Uric acid is a normal waste product in the blood resulting from the breakdown of certain foods. Uric acid usually passes through the kidneys and is eliminated from the body in urine. But it can build up in the blood and form painful, spiky crystals in your joints. This may happen if the body is making too much uric acid or if the kidneys are having a hard time filtering it out.
Having too much uric acid in the blood is a condition called hyperuricemia. Certain foods, medicines, and lifestyle factors can cause high uric acid levels in the blood, triggering a gout attack.
Your risk of gout goes up when your diet is high in naturally occurring compounds called purines. When purines break down in the body, they cause uric acid to form. Purines are found in certain high-protein foods and some drinks. It used to be thought that gout was caused only by lifestyle and diet, but new research has found that’s not true instead, gout is thought to have a genetic link. Diet, however, does play a role in the disease.
Other risk factors for gout include:
- Being a man
- Type 2 diabetes
- Health conditions that cause rapid turnover of cells
- KelleySeegmiller syndrome or LeschNyhan syndrome
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Related Conditions And Causes Of Gout
Other conditions that are sometimes confused with gout include:
- Reactive arthritis
- Infectious arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis , which occurs when the body releases too many inflammatory chemicals . Gout is caused by too much uric acid.
- Osteoarthritis , known as wear-and-tear arthritis.
Trials Of Prevention Of Recurrent Gout
We included all randomized controlled trials of prevention of recurrent gout in subjects with at least one previous attack of acute gout who had at least 6 months of treatment and follow-up. Our primary outcome of interest was incidence of recurrent gout and our secondary outcome was difference in serum urate between the intervention and control groups. Additionally, we extracted any reported adverse event data.
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Avoid Changing Hypouricaemic Therapy
During the treatment of acute gout any sudden change in the concentration of serum uric acid will exacerbate the attack. Patients taking regular hypouricaemic therapy should therefore not stop their treatment. Likewise, hypouricaemic therapy should not commence until after the attack has settled. The use of concurrent low-dose colchicine during the introductory phase of hypouricaemic therapy reduces the frequency of attacks during that relatively high-risk period.
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Who Can And Cannot Take Diclofenac
Most adults can take diclofenac.
Children may be prescribed diclofenac to treat joint problems. Diclofenac tablets, capsules and suppositories are suitable for children aged 6 months and above.
Diclofenac gel is suitable for children aged 14 and above. Diclofenac plasters and patches are suitable for young people aged 16 and above.
Diclofenac is not suitable for some people. To make sure it’s safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:
- have ever had an allergic reaction to diclofenac or any other medicines
- have a blood clotting disorder
- are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or breastfeeding
Voltaren Gel Real Performance
The real performance of the Voltaren gel doesnt really live up that it has on its name. Whats true is that it is a bit better in comparison to some other NSAIDs or Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs. This is in a sense that it encourages lesser side effects. However, it is usually outpaced because its base is actually sodium salt and potassium salt. Some other NSAIDs use the potassium salt that is much faster. Therefore, if you somehow decide to use the Voltaren gel in treating gout, the flare-ups will not directly subside, however, you can expect there therell be lesser stomach issues.
All the other NSAIDs or Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs may cause damage to the stomach or in the gastrointestinal tract. This is mainly due to the epithelium, which becomes thinner when you take them. This actually has something to do with the mechanism that it does to be able to relieve the pain.
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Diclofenac Tablets Capsules And Suppositories
Dosage
You’ll usually take diclofenac tablets, capsules or suppositories 2 to 3 times a day.
The usual dose is 75mg to 150mg a day, depending on what your doctor prescribes for you. Follow your doctor’s advice on how many tablets to take, and how many times a day.
If your doctor prescribes diclofenac for your child, they’ll use your child’s weight to work out the right dose for them.
If you have pain all the time, your doctor may recommend slow-release diclofenac tablets or capsules. You’ll usually take these either once a day in the evening, or twice a day. If you’re taking slow-release diclofenac twice a day, leave a gap of 10 to 12 hours between your doses.
How to take tablets and capsules
Swallow diclofenac tablets or capsules with a drink of milk. If you need to take them with water, take them after a meal or snack. Taking them with milk or food means they’ll be less likely to upset or irritate your stomach.
Swallow them whole, do not crush, break or chew them.
How to use suppositories
What if I use too many plasters or patches or too much gel?
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.
Drug Interactions Of Diclofenac Vs Ibuprofen
Diclofenac and ibuprofen are NSAIDs that can interact with blood pressure medications like angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers , beta blockers, and diuretics. NSAIDs may reduce the blood pressure lowering effects of these antihypertensive medications.
Taking NSAIDs with blood thinners like aspirin or warfarin can increase the risk of bleeding. These medications can interact and increase the risk of stomach ulcers. Taking NSAIDs with SSRI antidepressants can also increase the risk of bleeding.
NSAIDs can also interact with other medications and increase their levels in the body. Taking NSAIDs with drugs like lithium, digoxin, and methotrexate can increase the risk of adverse side effects.
Consult a doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any medications before starting an NSAID.
| Drug | |
| Yes | Yes |
This may not be a complete list of all possible drug interactions. Consult a doctor with all medications you may be taking.
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Intense Big Toe Pain From Gout: A Classic Symptom Of An Attack
While the big toe is the most common place for a gout attack to happen, gout can also affect surrounding joints in the foot, ankle, and knee.
People with gout typically experience flare-ups, or attacks, of symptoms followed by periods with no symptoms. The attacks typically last 3 to 10 days. Some people go months or even years without a gout attack after having one. In other people, attacks may become more frequent over time.
Gout can be difficult to diagnose. Once its diagnosed, it can be treated with medication and lifestyle changes.