WHAT IS Voltaren xr/Diclofenac EXTENDED RELEASE?

Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/Diclofenac is in a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/Diclofenac works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body.

Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/Diclofenac is used to treat pain or inflammation caused by arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis.

Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/Diclofenac may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

HOW SHOULD I TAKE Voltaren xr/Diclofenac EXTENDED RELEASE?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

If you switch brands of Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac, your dose needs may change. Follow your doctor's instructions about how much medicine to take.

Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

If you take Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac for a long period of time, your doctor may want to check you on a regular basis to make sure this medication is not causing harmful effects. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Store Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

WHAT SHOULD I AVOID WHILE TAKING Voltaren xr/Diclofenac EXTENDED RELEASE?

Voltaren Extended Release side effects

Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or pain medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Many medicines available over the counter contain aspirin or other medicines similar to Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac (such as Motrin/ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or Anaprox/naproxen). If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of this type of medication. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains aspirin, Motrin/ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or Anaprox/naproxen. Do not drink alcohol while taking Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac. Alcohol can increase the risk of stomach bleeding caused by Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/Diclofenac may increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop taking Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac and seek medical attention or call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
• chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;
• swelling or rapid weight gain;
• fever, headache, neck stiffness, chills, increased sensitivity to light, purple spots on the skin, and/or seizure (convulsions).
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• urinating less than usual or not at all;
• bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; or
• black, bloody, or tarry stools;
• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;

Less serious side effects may include:

• skin itching or rash;
• blurred vision; or
• bloating, gas;
• upset stomach, mild heartburn or stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation;
• ringing in your ears.
• dizziness, headache, nervousness;

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

WHAT OTHER DRUGS WILL AFFECT Voltaren xr/Diclofenac EXTENDED RELEASE?

Tell your doctor if you are taking an antidepressant such as Celexa/citalopram ( Celexa ), Cymbalta/duloxetine ( Cymbalta ), Lexapro/escitalopram ( Lexapro ), Prozac/fluoxetine ( Prozac , Sarafem , Symbyax), Luvox/fluvoxamine ( Luvox ), Paxil/paroxetine ( Paxil ), Zoloft/sertraline ( Zoloft ), or Effexor xr/venlafaxine ( Effexor xr/Effexor ). Taking any of these drugs with Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.

Before taking Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:

• aspirin or other NSAIDs such as etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), Indocin cr/indomethacin ( Indocin cr/Indocin ), ketoprofen (Orudis), Toradol/ketorolac ( Toradol ), Ponstel/mefenamic acid ( Ponstel ), Mobic/meloxicam ( Mobic ), Relafen/nabumetone ( Relafen ), Anaprox/naproxen ( Aleve , Naprosyn), Feldene/piroxicam ( Feldene ), and others; or
• diuretics (water pills) such as Lasix/furosemide ( Lasix ).
• a blood thinner such as Coumadin/warfarin ( Coumadin );
• Gengraf/cyclosporine ( Neoral , Sandimmune );
• steroids (Sterapred/prednisone and others);
• an ACE inhibitor such as Lotrel/benazepril ( Lotensin ), Capoten/captopril ( Capoten ), Monopril/fosinopril ( Monopril ), Vasotec/enalapril ( Vasotec ), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), Altace/ramipril ( Altace ), and others.
• Lithotabs/lithium ( Eskalith , Lithobid );
• Rheumatrex/methotrexate ( Rheumatrex , Trexall);

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT Voltaren xr/Diclofenac EXTENDED RELEASE?

This medicine can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the longer you use Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac. Do not use this medicine just before or after having heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).

Seek emergency medical help if you have symptoms of heart or circulation problems, such as chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, or problems with vision or balance.

This medicine can also increase your risk of serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and gastrointestinal effects can occur without warning at any time while you are taking Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac. Older adults may have an even greater risk of these serious gastrointestinal side effects.

Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of bleeding in your stomach or intestines. This includes black, bloody, or tarry stools, or coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or pain medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Many medicines available over the counter contain aspirin or other medicines similar to Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac (such as Motrin/ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or Anaprox/naproxen). If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of this type of medication. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains aspirin, Motrin/ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or Anaprox/naproxen. Do not drink alcohol while taking Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac. Alcohol can increase the risk of stomach bleeding caused by Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac. Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/Diclofenac can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I OVERDOSE?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, drowsiness, black or bloody stools, coughing up blood, shallow breathing, and fainting.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I MISS A DOSE?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

WHAT SHOULD I DISCUSS WITH MY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER BEFORE TAKING Voltaren xr/Diclofenac EXTENDED RELEASE?

Taking an NSAID can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the longer you use an NSAID. Do not use this medicine just before or after having heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).

NSAIDs can also increase your risk of serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and gastrointestinal effects can occur without warning at any time while you are taking an NSAID. Older adults may have an even greater risk of these serious gastrointestinal side effects.

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac, or if you have a history of allergic reaction to aspirin or other NSAIDs.

Before taking Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• a history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot;
• liver or kidney disease,
• if you smoke.
• polyps in your nose;
• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder; or
• asthma;
• heart disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure;
• a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding;

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Taking Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac during the last 3 months of pregnancy may harm the unborn baby. Do not take Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/diclofenac during pregnancy unless your doctor has told you to. Voltaren xr/Voltaren xr/Diclofenac can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give this medicine to a child without the advice of a doctor.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.