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Diclofenac

Medication NSAID pain & fever
Aka: Voltaren, Cataflam, Voren
Brands seen in Singapore: Voltaren, Voren, Cataflam, Almiral, Salonpas Diclofenac
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Aches and pains, joint, muscle and bone problems, swelling
When to take
Tablets 2–3 times a day, gel 2–4 · shortest time that works
Take with
Milk, or water after food — less stomach irritation (NHS)
Pros & cons
Pros
  • NHS: tablets and capsules work in 20 to 30 minutes
  • SG gels, patches and plasters are general sale list
  • Gel and plasters: less medicine gets into the body
Cons
  • Every oral or rectal SG product is prescription-only
  • Long term or high dose can cause a stomach ulcer
  • Small heart/kidney risk at the 150 mg a day maximum
Sources
  1. HSA Register of Therapeutic Products (open data, data.gov.sg d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084) — datastore_search API, 5,511 rows · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “VOLTAREN 50 TABLET 50 mg [SIN05662P] … Prescription Only … CATAFLAM 50 TABLET 50 mg … Prescription Only … VOLTAREN EMULGEL 1% [SIN03962P] … General Sale List … VOREN GEL 10 mg/g … General Sale List”
  2. NHS — About diclofenac (reviewed 5 August 2024) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) medicine that reduces swelling (inflammation) and pain … aches and pains, as well as problems with joints, muscles and bones … tablets and capsules take 20 to 30 minutes to work”
  3. NHS — How and when to take or use diclofenac (reviewed 5 August 2024) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “If you take tablets or capsules, the usual dose is 75mg to a maximum of 150mg a day … Do not use diclofenac gel more than 4 times in any 24-hour period … do not use more than 2 plasters or patches in 24 hours … Swallow diclofenac tablets or capsules with a drink of milk”
  4. NHS — Who can and cannot take or use diclofenac (reviewed 5 August 2024) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “have an allergy to aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) … have asthma … have ever had stomach ulcers, bleeding in the stomach or intestines … have high blood pressure … have heart failure, severe liver disease or kidney disease … are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or breastfeeding”
  5. NHS — Side effects of diclofenac (reviewed 5 August 2024) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Diclofenac tablets and capsules can cause an ulcer in your stomach if you take them for a long time or in large doses … There's also a small risk of heart failure or kidney failure if you take the maximum dose (150mg a day) for a long time … You're less likely to have side effects with diclofenac gel or plasters. This is because less medicine gets into your body”
  6. NHS — Taking diclofenac with other medicines and herbal supplements (reviewed 5 August 2024) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “anticoagulants … such as warfarin … medicines for high blood pressure … selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants … steroid medicines … diuretics … lithium … methotrexate … Do not take diclofenac with similar painkillers, like aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen, without talking to a doctor”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.