Health Risks Associated with Arthritis Drug Voltaren Gel

Other major issues include jaundice and hepatitis. The FDA advisory came after studies found that up to 15% of Voltaren users suffered elevated liver enzymes.

Primarily prescribed for pain relief of osteoarthritis, Voltaren gel is a topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID. The gel became popular due to its low price, convenience to use, and effectiveness at reducing pain when applied to fingers, elbows, and knees. The gel is occasionally also used to treat sprains, strains and wart-like overgrowth on the surface of the skin.

The FDA urges doctors to follow patients using this product, to conduct regular tests of liver enzymes. Doctors have been aware that the pill form of Voltaren caused these issues for some time, but these new findings prove the gel version holds equal potential for liver issues. These risks grow if Voltaren is used along with other medications affecting the liver or kidneys, or with other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

The home page of the manufacturer's website makes only a passing comment on these new findings, stating, "There is a potential for elevation in liver function tests during treatment with diclofenac containing products." There are several paragraphs of expanded information on the subject on the "Drug Warnings" page of the site. However, these new findings have yet to be documented on the site.

Drugs.com also reports that the chance of cardiovascular disease may increase when using the product. It may also cause significant gastrointestinal side effects such as bleeding and ulceration. These issues can be fatal. These problems may occur with no notable symptoms to the patient.

Minor side effects include dryness or of skin irritation at the application site, sore throat, fever, and flu-like symptoms. These symptoms affect only a small percentage of patients using the gel.

Elderly patients using this drug need to exercise caution, as they are at the greatest risk of suffering side effects by using the drug.

Voltaren gel goes by the brand names of Flector Patch, Solaraze, or Voltaren Topical. The generic name for the drug is diclofenac topical.