Voltaren Gel
Voltaren Gel is a 1% diclofenac sodium gel in tubes for joint and muscle pain, strains, sprains and arthritis, rubbed into the sore area three or four times a day.
- Category
- Pain Management · Skin Care
- Active ingredient
- Diclofenac
- Route
- Topical
- Form
- Gel
- Strengths
- 1%
You will receive a quality generic equivalent, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Joint pain · Muscle pain · Arthritis
- Therapeutic Class
- NSAID
- Pharmacological Class
- Phenylacetic acid derivative
- Minor Side Effects
- Dryness, Local irritation
- Moderate Side Effects
- Redness, Itching
- Dosage Forms
- Gel
- Administration Route
- Topical
- Originator
- GSK
- Onset Time
- 1 hour
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature.
- Drug Interactions
- Oral NSAIDs
- Age Restrictions
- Not for children under 12.
What you will receive
Voltaren Gel is the originator brand name, made by GSK. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Voltaren Gel.
- The same active ingredient (Diclofenac) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
What pack sizes of Voltaren Gel can I order?
Voltaren Gel is a 1% diclofenac sodium gel, sold in packs of 1 to 5 tubes. It is generic diclofenac sodium, not the original Voltaren Gel. Larger packs cost less per tube.
How does Voltaren Gel arrive in Hong Kong?
Each Voltaren Gel order travels in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents, so the tubes inside are not obvious. Tracked courier takes 5 to 9 business days with online tracking; standard airmail takes 14 to 21 business days, 30 at most, and is untracked.
What are the alternative names for Voltaren Gel and diclofenac?
Voltaren, Cataflam and Voltarol are brand names of diclofenac, which is also sold as Cambia, Dynapar, Solaraze and Motifene. Here, diclofenac can be bought online as generic Voltaren Gel, and also as Voveran and diclofenac tablets. These are generics, not the original brand.
How often should I apply Voltaren Gel?
Three or four times a day, with a light film rubbed into the sore area each time. Let it dry before covering up, and wash your hands afterwards unless your hands are the part being treated. Knees, hands, wrists, elbows, ankles and most muscle aches are all easy to reach.
Is Voltaren Gel the same as diclofenac tablets?
They share the active ingredient, diclofenac sodium, but the route differs. Tablets are swallowed as 50mg or 100mg and travel through the body. The gel is 1% and is rubbed into the skin, where it builds up in the tissue underneath, so far less of it circulates than from a tablet.
What is the difference between Voltaren Gel and Voveran Gel?
Both are 1% diclofenac sodium gels in tubes, and both are used for the same joint and muscle pain. The difference is the brand name, not the strength or the form, so the choice comes down to which name you prefer.
How much diclofenac gets into the bloodstream from the gel?
Only a small fraction of the dose crosses the skin into the blood, which is why the gel is less likely than tablets to upset the stomach. More gets through if you spread it over a large area, put it on broken skin, or cover it with a tight dressing.
Can I use Voltaren Gel with ibuprofen or diclofenac tablets?
Both reach the bloodstream, so the two add up. The gel contributes far less than a tablet, but using it regularly alongside oral ibuprofen, naproxen or diclofenac raises the chance of stomach irritation and, rarely, bleeding.
About Voltaren Gel
What a tube of Voltaren Gel is for
Voltaren Gel is a 1% diclofenac sodium gel, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) that you rub into the skin rather than swallow. It suits pain that sits close to the surface: knees and hands stiffened by arthritis, a strained shoulder or calf, a sprained ankle, or a bruise that has left the area sore and swollen. Diclofenac blocks the enzymes that make prostaglandins, the body's own pain and swelling signals. On the skin it collects in the tissue underneath, so it acts where you put it and only a small amount reaches the rest of the body.
How to use it
Three or four times a day, smooth a light film over the painful area and rub it in. Knees, ankles, elbows, wrists, hands and most muscle aches are easy to reach. Hands need washing afterwards, unless they were the part treated.
Keep the gel off the eyes and mouth and off cuts, grazes or skin that is already sore. Let it dry before clothing goes over it, and avoid tight wraps or airtight dressings on top.
Skin reactions and other side effects
Redness, itching or a warm tingle at the spot are the usual complaints, and they often fade with continued use. Dry or scaly skin, a rash and local swelling are less common. Hives, a blistering rash, or swelling of the lips and tongue with trouble breathing point to an allergic reaction and need urgent treatment.
Some diclofenac does cross the skin, so treating large areas for weeks can, rarely, bring on the stomach and kidney problems tablets are known for. The gel adds to diclofenac tablets, other NSAIDs and blood thinners such as warfarin. People whose asthma or hives flare after aspirin or another NSAID should not use it, and it is not used in pregnancy, especially the last three months.
Voltaren Gel, Voveran Gel and diclofenac tablets
Three listings here share the same ingredient. This one is a 1% gel in tubes, and so is Voveran Gel: a different brand name, the same strength and form. Diclofenac tablets, 50mg and 100mg, are swallowed and work through the whole body, which is what you want for pain that isn't tied to one spot. Choose the gel when the sore joint or muscle is easy to reach and you would rather not take another tablet.