Diclofenac

Relative potency of diclofenac, ketoprofen and ibuprofen

Diclofenac is a potent NSAID with low IC5010

(Relative potency of NSAID based on 50% inhibition of COX-2 enzyme in whole blood assay12)

Smaller IC50 value indicates higher potency, i.e., the active ingredient can block same amount of COX-2 enzyme activity at lesser concentration

Diclofenac has the low IC50 among active ingredients tested13

Its effect on the COX-2 enzyme means that, unlike non-NSAID medications such as paracetamol, diclofenac not only provides pain relief but also treats inflammation – a root cause of pain.2,4

Diclofenac, an NSAID (and therefore in the same drug class as ketoprofen and ibuprofen), shows marked potency in its inhibition of the COX-2 enzyme.9,5

NSAIDs reduce pain and inflammation by inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes

NSAIDs reduce pain and inflammation by inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes

  1. COX-2 enzymes release prostaglandins which promote inflammation and pain1,11
  2. NSAIDs inhibit COX-2 enzymes to prevent prostaglandin synthesis1,11
  3. The result is pain relief and reduced inflammation1,11

Potency + Penetration = Pain on movement reduction + Suitability6-8

  • Potency

    Potency

    Diclofenac, a potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory with low IC50 value13

    Penetration

    Penetration

    Diclofenac has high mITAA value + Voltaren Emulgel formulation14,15

    Pain on movement

    Pain on movement reduction

    Significantly reduce pain and restore mobility faster. Voltaren Emulgel has the lowest NNT value11,12,16,17

    Suitability

    Suitability

    Lower risks of systemic side-effects compared to oral NSAIDs18

  • MITAA

    Voltaren Emulgels have higher modified Index of Topical Anti-inflammatory Activity (mITAA) because:

    • Contains diclofenac, a potent active ingredient
    • Superior formulations to penetrate deep into the tissues

    Voltaren 12h has the highest mITTA value#:

    • mITAA values (ranged from 4 to 32) for diclofenac in comparison to ibuprofen (ranged 0.37 to 2) in all cases.
    • Voltaren 12h is formulated with high drug concentration and a permeation enhancer which allow more diclofenac to penetrate through the skin.

  • NNT

    In 2015 the Cochrane group performed a meta-analysis which included 5311 participants treated with a topical NSAID, 3470 with placebo and 220 with an oral NSAID11

    The authors compared the efficacy of each treatment with placebo and used it to generate a risk ratio; an indication of which treatments produce a statistically significant benefit for patients11

    From this they generated a Number Needed to Treat (NNT) value, which allows indirect comparisons of the efficacy of different drugs for the same indication17

  • Comorbities

    Topical diclofenac has strong evidence of its use in special population compared to other topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)19-21

The Voltaren range offers pain-relief products tailored to individual patient needs

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Voltaren 2.32% Emulgel

Relief Gel for joint, back and body pain

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