Health Encyclopedia > Drug Interaction by Drug Name > Diclofenac

Diclofenac

Brand Name: Cataflam®, Voltaren XR®, Voltaren®

Combination drug: Arthrotec®

Diclofenac Information

is used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. It is in a class of medications known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Summary of Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
(for details about the summarized interactions, read the full article)

May be Beneficial: Depletion or interference—The medication may deplete or interfere with the absorption or function of the nutrient. Taking these nutrients may help replenish them.	Calcium L-tryptophan* Lithium
May be Beneficial: Supportive interaction—Taking these supplements may support or otherwise help your medication work better.	Stinging nettle
Avoid: Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability—Avoid these supplements when taking this medication since the supplement may decrease the absorption and/or activity of the medication in the body.	Willow*
Side effect reduction/prevention	None known
Adverse interaction	None known

An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

Diclofenac Interactions with Dietary Supplements

Calcium
decreases the amount of calcium lost in the urine,¹ which may help prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women.²

L-tryptophan
causes complex changes to L-tryptophan levels in the blood,³ but the clinical implications of this are unknown. More research is needed to determine whether supplementation with L-tryptophan is a good idea for people taking diclofenac.

Lithium
Lithium is a mineral that may be present in some supplements and is also used in large amounts to treat mood disorders such as manic-depression. may inhibit the excretion of lithium from the body, resulting in higher blood levels of the mineral.⁴ Since minor changes in lithium blood levels can produce unwanted side effects, diclofenac should be used with caution in people taking lithium supplements.

Diclofenac Interactions with Herbs

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)
In a controlled human study, people who took stinging nettle with diclofenac obtained similar pain relief compared to people taking twice as much diclofenac with no stinging nettle.⁵ More research is needed to determine whether people taking diclofenac might benefit from also taking stinging nettle.

Willow (Salix alba)
Willow bark contains salicin, which is related to aspirin. Both salicin and aspirin produce anti-inflammatory effects after they have been converted to salicylic acid in the body. The administration of aspirin to individuals taking diclofenac results in a significant reduction in blood levels of diclofenac.⁶ Though there are no studies investigating interactions between willow bark and diclofenac, people taking the drug should avoid the herb until more information is available.

Diclofenac Interactions with Foods and Other Compounds

Food
Taking diclofenac with food may lower the maximum concentration of the drug in the blood and may delay, but not decrease, absorption.⁷ NSAIDs such as diclofenac should be taken with a meal to reduce stomach irritation.

Smoking
Injury to the stomach caused by NSAIDs such as diclofenac can resolve naturally despite continued administration of the drug. However, the stomach lining of smokers is less likely to adapt to injury, leading to continued damage from the drug.⁸

Alcohol
Chronic consumption of alcohol can aggravate injury to the stomach and duodenal lining caused by diclofenac.⁹ To prevent added injury, consumption of alcoholic beverages should be avoided in individuals taking diclofenac.

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The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over-the-counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. The "reviews" listed for any medical condition, prescription drug, condition or symtpom is provided specifically from eVitamins and is not associated with healthnotes.

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