10 best analogues of Diclofenac

Contents

Rating of the top 10 inexpensive and effective analogues of Diclofenac according to KP
How to choose an analogue of Diclofenac
Reviews of doctors about analogues of Diclofenac
Popular questions and answers
- When can diclofenac analogues be used?
- What happens if you stop taking Diclofenac and switch to an analogue?

Diclofenac relieves inflammation, has an analgesic effect and lowers the temperature. It is used for pain in the back and joints, gout, headache and toothache. We will find out from experts what analogues Diclofenac has, how they differ from each other and what are their pros and cons

Diclofenac sodium is one of the most popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which is part of many drugs. Russian and foreign manufacturers produce tablets, ointments, gels, injection solutions, suppositories and patches with diclofenac.

Due to the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, diclofenac helps with diseases of the spine and joints, including arthritis, bursitis, sciatica, neuralgia, myalgia¹. Preparations with diclofenac are prescribed for headache, toothache and menstrual pain, pain after surgery, injuries and burns.¹.

Diclofenac has quite a few contraindications, including:

hypersensitivity to NSAIDs;
ulcerative erosive diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
severe disorders in the work of the heart, kidneys and liver;
blood diseases;
pathology of cerebral vessels;
3rd trimester of pregnancy and lactation¹.

The most contraindications are for tablets and injection solutions, the least for gels, ointments and suppositories. Many diclofenac preparations are available by prescription, so they must be prescribed by a doctor.

Rating of the top 10 inexpensive and effective analogues of Diclofenac according to KP

Together with experts, we have selected the 10 best analogues of Diclofenac among Russian and foreign drugs. The list of analogues of Diclofenac includes different dosage forms – from tablets and ointments to injection solutions.

All analogues and substitutes for Diclofenac are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but may differ in mechanism of action, dosage, indications for use.

1. Voltaren

Many doctors consider Voltaren the best analogue of Diclofenac. This is an original drug with the same active ingredient – sodium diclofenac. Voltaren has successfully passed clinical trials and is safe to use.

Voltaren is produced in the form of tablets, rectal suppositories, patch, gel and solution for intramuscular injection.².

Among the dosage forms there is Voltaren Retard with a dosage of 100 mg – these are prolonged-release tablets that are used 1 time per day. Voltaren in the form of rectal suppositories is often used by elderly people with disorders in the gastrointestinal tract, since the drug is absorbed through the rectal mucosa, bypassing the stomach and intestines

Like Diclofenac, Voltaren is prescribed for diseases of the joints and spine, which are accompanied by pain and inflammation.². The drug is also indicated for other types of pain, including headache, toothache, muscle².

Contraindications for Voltaren are the same as for Diclofenac: hypersensitivity to the components, renal, hepatic and heart failure, ulcerative erosive diseases and bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, inflammatory bowel disease, lactation and the 3rd trimester of pregnancy².

original drug from a well-known manufacturer; several dosage forms – suppositories, tablets, injection solution, gel.

high price in the segment.

2. Orthofen

This is a complete analogue of Diclofenac in terms of the active substance. Ortofen contains diclofenac sodium and has a similar effect: reduces inflammation and pain, helps to reduce the temperature in colds and infectious diseases³. There are several dosage forms on sale: 2% ointment, 5% gel and tablets with a dosage of 25 mg.

Ortofen is prescribed for the same indications as Diclofenac: for joint, muscle, toothache and headache, for pain in the postoperative and post-traumatic period³. Contraindications for Diclofenac and Ortofen are identical.

low price in the segment; always available in pharmacies.

only 3 dosage forms – ointment, gel and tablets.

3. Indomethacin

Indomethacin, like diclofenac sodium, is an NSAID. Has a strong anti-inflammatory effect and effectively eliminates pain⁴.

The drug helps to reduce morning stiffness of the joints, relieves pain at rest and during movement, reduces inflammatory swelling at the wound site⁴. Available in the form of tablets, rectal suppositories and ointments for external use.

Contraindications are the same as for drugs with diclofenac sodium. Indomethacin should not be taken with renal, hepatic and heart failure, hematopoietic disorders, stomach and duodenal ulcers, proctitis and hemorrhoids, internal bleeding, pregnancy and lactation⁴.

pronounced anti-inflammatory effect; always on sale; affordable price in the segment.

many contraindications and side effects.

4. Naproxen

Naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. In the pharmacy network, naproxen preparations are sold under different trade names: Naproxen, Nalgezin, Nexemizin, Teraliv. Release form – tablets with a dosage of 275, 500 and 550 mg.

Naproxen preparations are prescribed for rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis, headache and migraine, gout and dysmenorrhea, for injuries and inflammatory diseases of the musculoskeletal system⁵.

Compared to diclofenac, naproxen is more effective in the case of premenstrual syndrome and headaches, including migraine.

It is important to consider that naproxen and diclofenac sodium have different dosages. To replace 50 mg of diclofenac, approximately 275 mg of naproxen will be needed.

Contraindications to the use of naproxen: severe renal and hepatic insufficiency, internal bleeding, pregnancy, lactation, bleeding disorders, inflammatory bowel disease⁵.

has a pronounced analgesic effect in dysmenorrhea and headache; has less effect on the cardiovascular system compared to diclofenac sodium.

more expensive than diclofenac preparations.

5. Ketorolac

Ketorolac belongs to NSAIDs and in some cases can become a substitute for Diclofenac. The active component of the drug – ketorolac – has a strong analgesic effect, and also reduces inflammation and helps to lower the temperature. In terms of the strength of the analgesic effect, ketorolac is almost equal to morphine and significantly superior to other NSAIDs.⁶without causing addiction.

Ketorolac is prescribed for moderate and severe pain: headache and toothache, pain in oncological diseases, after injuries and operations, with myalgia, neuralgia, rheumatism⁶.

Contraindications for use: intolerance to NSAIDs, erosive and ulcerative diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, bleeding and a tendency to them, inflammatory bowel disease, renal and hepatic failure, hemorrhagic diathesis, pregnancy and lactation⁶.

Ketorolac is available as tablets and injectable solution. Also on the market there are preparations based on ketorolac under other trade names: Ketorol (regular and soluble tablets, gel, injection solution), Ketanov (tablets and injection solution).

an effective pain reliever.

a large number of side effects.

6. Etoricoxib

Etoricoxib belongs to the group of NSAIDs, but the mechanism of action is slightly different from diclofenac and does not have a serious negative effect on the state of the gastrointestinal tract.⁷.

Etoricoxib is prescribed to reduce pain and inflammation in osteoarthritis, gouty and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as to reduce pain after dental surgery.⁷.

Contraindications for use are almost the same as for Diclofenac: pregnancy and lactation, stomach ulcers, heart and kidney failure, severe liver dysfunction, coronary heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease⁷.

There are several preparations based on etoricoxib on sale: Etoricoxib, Etoriax, Arcoxia, Etororelex. Release form – tablets with a dosage of 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg. The undoubted advantage of these drugs is that they need to be taken once a day.

convenient regimen – 1 time per day; safer for the gastrointestinal tract compared to many analogues of Diclofenac.

are more expensive than diclofenac drugs.

7. Celecoxib

Compared to diclofenac sodium, celecoxib is much less irritating to the gastrointestinal mucosa. The drug has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and is prescribed for diseases of the joints, pain in the back and muscles, dysmenorrhea, as well as to reduce pain in the postoperative period.⁸.

Celecoxib should not be used in case of hypersensitivity to the components, severe heart, kidney and liver failure, inflammatory bowel disease, erosive and ulcerative diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in the acute stage, during pregnancy and lactation, under the age of 18 years⁸.

The drug is available in capsules containing 100 and 200 mg of active ingredient. It is recommended to take the medicine 1 or 2 times a day.

less damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa; convenient regimen – 1 or 2 times a day.

high price in the segment.

8. Meloxicam

Meloxicam has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects and is used to treat various joint diseases: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis⁹.

Meloxicam is less likely than diclofenac sodium to cause erosive and ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, and therefore is considered safer.

Contraindications are standard for most NSAIDs – this is pregnancy and breastfeeding, children under 12 years of age, severe renal, hepatic and heart failure, ulcers and erosions in the gastrointestinal tract, inflammatory bowel disease⁹.

In the pharmacy network, you can find Meloxicam in the form of tablets, suppositories and a solution for intramuscular injection. Pharmacies also sell other drugs based on meloxicam and with a similar effect – these are Movalis, Amelotex and Elox.

pronounced anti-inflammatory effect; convenient regimen – 1-2 times a day; less irritating to the gastrointestinal mucosa compared to diclofenac sodium.

more expensive than drugs with diclofenac.

9. Textared

The active ingredient of the drug is tenoxicam. In addition to anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects, tenoxicam “thinns” the blood. The drug helps to cope with pain and is prescribed for gout, joint diseases, headache and toothache, injuries, burns, inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system¹⁰.

Texared should not be used for severe disorders in the work of the heart, kidneys and liver, for gastritis, erosive and ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract and gastrointestinal bleeding. There are other contraindications: hearing disorders, blood clotting disorders, pregnancy, lactation¹⁰.

The release form of the drug is tablets and solution for injection.

convenient method of application – 1-2 tablets 1 time per day.

not always on sale.

10. Aceclofenac

Aceclofenac in chemical structure is as close as possible to diclofenac sodium. This non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug is used for a wide range of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which are accompanied by pain and inflammation.¹¹. Acelofenac is also effective against other types of pain: headache, toothache, menstrual¹¹.

Contraindications are standard for NSAIDs – bleeding and a tendency to them, erosive and ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, severe violations of the liver, kidneys and heart, pregnancy and breastfeeding¹¹.

Acelofenac is available in the form of tablets and powder for oral suspension.

effectively relieves pain and inflammation in diseases of the joints.

more expensive than drugs with diclofenac.

How to choose an analogue of Diclofenac

– Diclofenac is one of the well-known anti-inflammatory drugs that has been used for decades, so it will probably always be in pharmacies. Only your attending physician can choose one or another analogue of Diclofenac, since other drugs may be incompatible with the therapy that is prescribed for you, explains neurologist Alexei Borisov.

Reviews of doctors about analogues of Diclofenac

– According to recent studies, all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which include Diclofenac, are approximately the same in their action and differ only in side effects and risks. Therefore, in general, we can say that Diclofenac analogues are interchangeable, although no one has canceled the patient’s individual sensitivity to a particular drug, the doctor adds.