diclofenac vs sulindac
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of diclofenac and sulindac. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
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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.
Sulindac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It helps to reduce pain and swelling.
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.
Sulindac can help with the pain and swelling from different types of arthritis. This includes osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It can also treat ankylosing spondylitis, a painful shoulder, and gout.
Diclofenac is an NSAID. It reduces pain and swelling by blocking substances in the body that cause inflammation.
Sulindac works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain and inflammation. It gets converted into an active form in your body. This active form then blocks the production of these inflammatory substances.
- • Pain
- • Headache
- • Stomach pain
- • Upset stomach
- • Nausea (with or without vomiting)
- • Diarrhea
- • Constipation
- Pain 12,281
- Fatigue 11,317
- Rheumatoid Arthritis 9,241
- Rash 8,747
- Arthralgia 8,640
- Pain 182
- Fatigue 151
- Arthralgia 138
- Nausea 123
- Pain In Extremity 114
No specific warnings noted.
NSAIDs like sulindac can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke, which can be fatal. This risk can happen early in treatment and gets worse the longer you use sulindac. You should not take sulindac if you are having heart bypass surgery (CABG). NSAIDs also raise the risk of serious stomach problems like bleeding, ulcers, and holes in your stomach or intestines, which can be fatal. These problems can happen without warning. Older adults are at higher risk.
No pregnancy information available.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Sulindac may harm your unborn baby. It is not known if sulindac passes into breast milk.
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How to Read This diclofenac vs sulindac Comparison
diclofenac is classified in the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) drug class, while sulindac 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 50,226 submissions while sulindac has 708. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for diclofenac or sulindac.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.