Over-the-counter medication · Topical NSAID

diclofenac topical

Also sold as Voltaren Gel, Pennsaid. This medicine is for temporary relief of arthritis pain.

Data updated 2026-05-15

$21.42
Brand price (NADAC)

diclofenac topical (Voltaren Gel) is an over-the-counter Topical NSAID. This medicine is for temporary relief of arthritis pain.

Diclofenac topical gel is a medicine that helps relieve arthritis pain. It belongs to a class of drugs called topical NSAIDs.

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Drug Pricing (NADAC)

Brand Price

$21.42/unit

Generic Available

Yes (2 manufacturers)

Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective November 20, 2024. Compare all drug costs →

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What it does

This medicine is for temporary relief of arthritis pain.

Common side effects

No common side effects listed.

Key warnings

Do not use this medicine for strains, sprains, bruises, or sports injuries.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from diclofenac topical's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

How It Works

Diclofenac is an NSAID that reduces inflammation and pain. When applied to the skin, it is absorbed into the tissues. This reduces pain and swelling in the treated area.

Serious Warnings

Do not use this medicine for strains, sprains, bruises, or sports injuries. This medicine has not been shown to work for these types of injuries. Only apply to clean, dry skin without cuts, wounds, infections, or rashes. Do not use with heat or bandages.

Common Questions

How much gel should I use?
For upper body areas (hand, wrist, elbow), use 2.25 inches (2 grams). For lower body areas (foot, ankle, knee), use 4.5 inches (4 grams).
Can I use a heating pad with this gel?
No, do not apply external heat such as a heating pad over the treated area.
Can I bandage the area after applying the gel?
No, do not apply a bandage over the treated area.
What should I do if I accidentally use too much gel?
If you use too much gel, wipe off the extra gel. Contact your doctor if you have concerns.
Can I use this gel on my back pain?
No, this gel is only for arthritis pain in specific areas like hands, wrists, elbows, feet, ankles, and knees.
How long should I use the gel for?
Use this medicine for up to 21 days, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Can I use this gel on open wounds?
No, only apply to clean, dry skin that does not have any cuts, open wounds, infections or rashes.
What should I do if I don't feel any relief after using the gel for a week?
If you do not get any pain relief in 7 days, stop use.
Can I use this with other topical products?
No, do not apply in the same area as any other product.
Where should I store the dosing card?
Store the dosing card with your diclofenac sodium topical gel product. The dosing card is re-usable.
What drug class is diclofenac topical?
diclofenac topical belongs to the Topical NSAID drug class. It is available over the counter (OTC). This medicine is for temporary relief of arthritis pain.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for diclofenac topical?
The FDA label for diclofenac topical contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.

Related Medications in Topical NSAID

Other drugs grouped near diclofenac topical - same-class peers and common alternatives.

abatacept

Orencia

Orencia is a medicine that helps to reduce inflammation.

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acetaminophen

Tylenol

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a medicine that can relieve pain and reduce fever.

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acetaminophen/hydrocodone

Vicodin, Norco

This medicine contains acetaminophen and hydrocodone.

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acetaminophen/oxycodone

Percocet

Percocet is a strong pain medicine.

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adalimumab

Humira

Idacio is a medicine that blocks a protein called TNF.

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Compare diclofenac topical vs abatacept side-by-side →

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What the FDA Data Shows for diclofenac topical

The FDA label for diclofenac topical (sold under brand names such as Voltaren Gel, Pennsaid) classifies it as an over-the-counter product in the Topical NSAID class. This medicine is for temporary relief of arthritis pain. Labeling covers dosing, contraindications, and monitoring requirements derived from clinical trials.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS.

Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

Data Sources

Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).

FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: July 29, 2024

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page