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diclofenac vs oxaprozin

Side-by-side comparison of diclofenac and oxaprozin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

NSAIDs with short elimination half-lives (e.g., diclofenac, indomethacin) should be avoided for a period of two days before, the day of, and two days following administration of pemetrexed.

Recommendation: You should generally avoid taking more than one NSAID at a time. Consult your healthcare provider to choose the single best medication for your needs.

Drug Class
diclofenac Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
oxaprozin Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
Type
diclofenac Over-the-Counter
oxaprozin Prescription
Summary
diclofenac

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.

oxaprozin

Oxaprozin (Daypro) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It helps to reduce pain and swelling.

What It Treats
diclofenac

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.

oxaprozin

This medicine can help with the symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. These conditions can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in your joints. Oxaprozin can help you feel better by reducing these symptoms.

How It Works
diclofenac

Diclofenac is an NSAID. It reduces pain and swelling by blocking substances in the body that cause inflammation.

oxaprozin

Oxaprozin works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain and swelling. It blocks the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins contribute to inflammation and pain.

Common Side Effects
diclofenac
  • Pain
  • Headache
oxaprozin
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Upset stomach
  • Nausea
  • Rash
FAERS Reports
diclofenac
  • Medicine not working 13,689
  • Pain 12,281
  • Tiredness 11,317
  • Rheumatoid arthritis 9,240
  • Rash 8,747
oxaprozin
  • Allergic reaction to the drug 386
  • Drug not working 178
  • Pain 151
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 134
  • Headache 104
Serious Warnings
diclofenac

There are no boxed warnings in the provided data.

oxaprozin

NSAIDs like oxaprozin can increase your risk of heart problems like heart attack and stroke. This risk can happen early in treatment and may increase with longer use. You should not take this medicine if you are having heart bypass surgery. NSAIDs also increase the risk of stomach and intestine problems like bleeding and ulcers, which can be fatal. Older adults and people with a history of stomach ulcers are at higher risk.

Pregnancy
diclofenac

There is no information about pregnancy or breastfeeding in the provided data.

oxaprozin

Taking oxaprozin after 20 weeks of pregnancy may harm your baby. Avoid taking this medicine after 30 weeks of pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

How to Read This diclofenac vs oxaprozin Comparison

diclofenac is classified in the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) drug class, while oxaprozin sits within the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. 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 55,274 submissions while oxaprozin has 953. 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 minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to these are both nsaid pain relievers that work in the same way. taking them at the same time increases the chance of serious side effects like stomach bleeding or kidney damage without helping your pain more.. 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 oxaprozin — 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.