Diclofenac can you drink alcohol

This is normal. Diclofenac gel Dosage You'll usually use the gel 2 to 4 times a day, depending on how strong it is. Important: Maximum dose for diclofenac gel Do not use diclofenac gel more than 4 times in any hour period.

How to use the gel Gently squeeze the tube, or press firmly and evenly on the nozzle of the dispenser, to get a small amount of gel. Put the gel on the painful or swollen area and slowly rub it in. It may feel cool on your skin.

Wash your hands afterwards. Diclofenac plasters and patches Dosage Treat only 1 painful area at a time. How to use plasters and patches Stick a medicated plaster or patch over the painful area twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.

Take the old patch off before you put the new one on. Apply gentle pressure with the palm of your hand until it's completely stuck to your skin. When you want to take the plaster or patch off, it helps to moisten it with some water first. Once you have taken it off, wash the affected skin and rub it gently in circular movements to remove any leftover glue. What if I forget to take it? Never take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. What if I take too much?

It can cause side effects such as: stomach ache feeling or being sick vomiting diarrhoea black poo or blood in your vomit — a sign of bleeding in your stomach headaches drowsiness ringing in your ears tinnitus.

Urgent advice: Contact for advice if:. Important Before taking any other medicines together with diclofenac, check the label to see if they contain ibuprofen, aspirin or other NSAIDs. Common side effects Common side effects of diclofenac tablets, capsules and suppositories happen in more than 1 in people.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away: feeling sick nausea being sick vomiting or diarrhoea feeling dizzy or vertigo headaches stomach ache, wind or loss of appetite mild rash You're less likely to have side effects with diclofenac gel or plasters. It can make your skin: more sensitive to sunlight than normal develop a rash where you applied the gel or plaster dry or irritated eczema itchy or inflamed dermatitis Serious side effects These serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1, people.

Call your doctor straight away if: you have blood in your vomit or black poo — these could be signs of bleeding in your stomach or gut you have severe indigestion, heartburn or stomach pain, vomiting or diarrhoea — these can be signs of an ulcer or inflammation in your stomach or gut the whites of your eyes or your skin turn yellow, although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin — this can be a sign of liver problems you have a raised, itchy rash, or swollen or puffy skin — these can be signs of hives urticaria or oedema swelling you have breathlessness, tiredness and swollen legs or ankles — these can be signs of heart failure.

Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to diclofenac. Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme. Visit Yellow Card for further information. What to do about: feeling sick nausea — take diclofenac with or after a meal or snack.

It may also help if you avoid rich or spicy food. If you're being sick, try small frequent sips of water. Speak to a pharmacist if you have signs of dehydration , such as peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. Speak to a doctor if being sick or diarrhoea lasts for longer than 3 days. Do not take any other medicines without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor. Do not drive or cycle, or use tools or machinery, if you're feeling dizzy or lightheaded.

As your body gets used to diclofenac, these side effects should wear off. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend an alternative painkiller. Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking diclofenac.

Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe. Eat smaller meals, eat and drink slowly, and exercise regularly. If it does not get better within a week or you're worried, speak to a pharmacist or doctor. Do not use a sunlamp or sunbeds.

Diclofenac and pregnancy Diclofenac is not usually recommended in pregnancy. Diclofenac and breastfeeding You can take diclofenac while breastfeeding. Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:. Important: Medicine safety Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.

How does diclofenac work? When will I feel better? How long will I take it for? Is it safe to take long term? Are there other painkillers I can try? Why do I need to be careful about stomach ulcers?

Important: Stomach ulcers Stop taking diclofenac and contact your doctor if you think you may have symptoms of a stomach ulcer.

Is it addictive? The content on this page will be of most use to clinicians, such as nurses, doctors, pharmacists, specialists and other healthcare providers.

Looking for Where to get medical help A health professional or service Patient portals Newsletters View all. Information for healthcare providers on diclofenac The content on this page will be of most use to clinicians, such as nurses, doctors, pharmacists, specialists and other healthcare providers. Swallow the tablets and capsules whole with a glass of water.

Do not crush or chew them. Take diclofenac with food or immediately after food, to prevent stomach upset. Dissolve the tablet in some water. Stir if necessary. What is diclofenac used for? Diclofenac tablets, capsules, suppositories and injection are used to relieve pain and inflammation in a wide range of conditions, such as: Rheumatoid arthritis. A form of arthritis affecting the joints of the spine ankylosing spondylitis. Arthritis in children chronic juvenile arthritis.

Acute gout. Muscle and joint injuries or conditions involving inflammation, such as frozen shoulder periarthritis , tendon inflammation tendinitis , tennis elbow , tenosynovitis, bursitis. Painful conditions due to accidents, such as sprains , strains, dislocations, fractures. Lower back pain. If you are not sure if you can safely drink alcohol while taking a certain medication, read the label carefully and consult with your pharmacist or doctor.

You should avoid drinking alcohol if you are taking allergy medications or any multi-symptom cold and flu formulation. Drowsiness and dizziness are common side effects of medications used to treat allergies, colds, and the flu. These symptoms are also common when you drink alcohol.

When the substances are combined, the effect is intensified, and your judgment and focus will be further impaired. The risks associated with drowsiness caused by medication or alcohol are serious, which is why you should never drive or operate heavy machinery while under the influence of any substance.

Avoid alcohol if you are taking:. Angina ischemic chest pain is caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. If you have angina, you might be prescribed a medication called nitroglycerin.

If you drink alcohol while you are taking nitroglycerin, it can cause a rapid heartbeat tachycardia , sudden changes in blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting. Avoid alcohol if you are taking any brand of nitroglycerin, including:. Mixing anti-anxiety and epilepsy medications with alcoholic beverages can cause slowed breathing, impaired motor control, abnormal behavior, and memory loss.

If you are being treated for an anxiety disorder or epilepsy, avoid alcohol if you take any of the following medications:. Alcohol might affect how well some antibiotic medications work. The research on mixing alcohol with antibiotics is somewhat limited and unclear, but the combination has been associated with symptoms such as tachycardia rapid heartbeat , sudden changes in blood pressure, gastrointestinal upset, headache, flushing, and liver damage.

Drinking even a small amount of alcohol while taking an antibiotic called Flagyl metronidazole can cause a severe reaction, making you extremely sick with nausea and vomiting. You will want to avoid alcohol for three days before you start and after you stop Flagyl. Other antibiotics that should not be mixed with alcohol include:. In addition to worsening the side effects of antidepressant medications , mixing these drugs with alcohol can also make symptoms of depression worse.

If you are being treated for depression or another mental health condition such as an anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or obsessive- disorder, you may need to limit or completely avoid alcohol if you take one or more of the following medications:. Medications that are prescribed to treat nausea can make you feel drowsy, dizzy, and may impair your motor control—symptoms that can also be caused by alcohol.

Some drugs often antihistamines used to prevent and treat motion sickness can also be purchased over-the-counter. If you mix any type of anti-nausea drug with alcohol, the side effects of the medication can become more intense. Avoid combining alcoholic beverages with medications used to treat nausea, such as:. Certain types of anti-nausea medication can be used to help someone who is trying to stop drinking alcohol. When used under medical supervision, the combination can be an effective way to treat alcohol withdrawal.

If you take medications for arthritis, it is important to know that mixing them with alcohol can increase your risk for stomach ulcers and bleeding in the stomach, as well as liver problems. You should avoid alcohol if you are taking medication to treat arthritis, including:.

If you have a medical condition such as atrial fibrillation that puts you at risk for developing a blood clot, your doctor might prescribe anticoagulant medications to "thin" your blood. While these drugs make it less likely your body will form blood clots, they also make you bleed more easily. If you take a blood thinner, even an occasional drink can increase your risk of internal bleeding.

If your body is forming blood clots, it increases your risk of having a stroke or a heart attack. You might not need to completely avoid alcohol if you are taking a blood thinner. The American Heart Association AHA recommends limiting your intake to no more than one or two occasional drinks if you are on anticoagulant therapy. However, your doctor might have a different recommendation.

Be sure to talk to them before having a drink if you are taking anticoagulant medication, such as:. Medications prescribed to lower cholesterol levels known as statins can cause flushing, itching, stomach bleeding, and liver damage. Combining these drugs with alcohol can make the risks and side effects worse, especially if you have liver disease. Some research has found that alcohol does not appear to worsen liver inflammation in certain people who take medication for their cholesterol.

A Harvard study found that moderate alcohol use did not have a significant negative effect on the livers of men taking statins after heart surgery. You may want to limit your alcohol use if you are taking a cholesterol-lowering medication such as:. As with cold and flu remedies, combining alcohol with medications used to treat a cough can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and motor impairment.

The effects of the mix can be especially serious—if not deadly—when the cough medicine also contains alcohol. One ingredient in some cough suppressants called dextromethorphan DXM can be especially dangerous because it can cause extreme sedation and respiratory depression.