diclofenac vs misoprostol
Side-by-side comparison of diclofenac and misoprostol. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS See Table 1 for clinically significant drug interactions with diclofenac and misoprostol. Table 1: Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with Diclofenac and Misoprostol Drugs That Interfere with Hemostasis Clinical Impact: Diclofenac and anticoagulants such as warfarin have a synergistic effect on bleeding. The concomitant use of diclofenac and anticoagulants have an increased risk of serious bleeding compared to the use of either drug alone.
Recommendation: Take this combination exactly as your doctor tells you to help prevent stomach ulcers and bleeding.
Voltaren, Cataflam
Cytotec
Diclofenac is a gel that helps with arthritis pain in your hands, wrists, elbows, feet, ankles, or knees. It belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDs.
Diclofenac sodium/misoprostol is a combination drug used to treat arthritis symptoms while protecting your stomach from ulcers. It contains an anti-inflammatory (diclofenac) and a stomach protector (misoprostol).
This medicine temporarily relieves arthritis pain. It is only for pain in your hands, wrists, elbows, feet, ankles, or knees. It may take up to 7 days to start working. If you still have pain after 7 days, stop using it.
This medicine treats the symptoms of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis in adults. It is for people who have a high risk of getting stomach and duodenal ulcers from anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It helps to reduce pain and swelling in your joints.
Diclofenac is an NSAID. It reduces pain and swelling by blocking substances in the body that cause inflammation.
Diclofenac reduces pain and inflammation. Misoprostol helps protect your stomach lining from ulcers that can be caused by diclofenac. It does this by acting like a natural substance (prostaglandin) that protects the stomach.
- • Pain
- • Headache
- • Abdominal pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Upset stomach
- • Nausea
- • Gas
- Pain 12,281
- Tiredness 11,317
- Rheumatoid arthritis 9,240
- Rash 8,747
- Joint pain 8,640
- Bleeding 1,258
- Incomplete miscarriage 1,160
- Baby exposed to the medicine during pregnancy 625
- Pain 537
- Low red blood cell count 511
No specific warnings noted.
This medicine can cause serious problems: * **Risk of Uterine Rupture, Abortion, Premature Birth, and Birth Defects:** Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant. It can cause your uterus to rupture, cause a miscarriage, premature birth, or birth defects. * **Heart Problems:** NSAIDs like diclofenac increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, which can be deadly. This risk can happen early in treatment and increases with longer use. Do not take this medicine if you are having heart bypass surgery. * **Stomach Problems:** NSAIDs increase the risk of stomach bleeding, ulcers, and holes in the stomach or intestines, which can be deadly. These problems can happen without warning. The risk is higher in older adults and people with a history of ulcers or stomach bleeding.
No pregnancy information available.
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant. It can cause serious harm to your unborn baby, including miscarriage, premature birth, or birth defects. Talk to your doctor about using effective birth control while taking this medicine.
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How to Read This diclofenac vs misoprostol Comparison
diclofenac is classified in the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) drug class, while misoprostol sits within the Prostaglandin E1 Analog class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, diclofenac has 50,225 submissions while misoprostol has 4,091. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to diclofenac can increase the risk of serious bleeding in the stomach. misoprostol is used with it to help protect the lining of the stomach and reduce this risk.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between diclofenac and misoprostol - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.