AboutEric Brandt Expertise I am a practicing pharmacist.On my drug information website, I have answered hundreds of questions to date. The articles posted on my site include Parkinson`s disease. depression, menopause, diabetes, sleep and aging, congestive heart failure, calcium channel blockers, thyroid hormone replacement therapy, ADHD, multiple sclerosis an more.
Experience I have experience in retail as well as hospital pharmacy pracice. Currently working in a hospital pharmacy. I am experienced in drug information. Over the last 6 years I have developed a successful web site for drug information.
The addressfor my drug information website is http://www.druginformation.bc.caThere you can read articles on varios areas of health interest. You can also leave me questions which I will personally answer. I also have a free health information newsletter called The Caplet. To subscribe send e-mail to
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Question Eric,in sept. 2006, I was prescribed diclofenac sod 75mg., one tablet every 12 hrs for hip and leg pain. Just about this same time there was an article in the Charlotte Observer concerning how dangerous this medication is. I mentioned it to a pharmacist here and he had not heard anything about it being dangerous. Are you familiar with this, and what do you think? Thank you.
Answer Hi Milt,
Do you recall what the newspaper was warning about in regards to Diclofenac?
Diclofenac belongs the calss of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. It shares common adverse effects with this group of drugs. These side effects most commonly are gastrointestinal bleeds. This can be avoided if the drug is take with food and/or you take the enteric coated tablet. The gastrointestinal bleeds are only a problem if the drug is taken long term. On the short term it is pretty safe.
Also long term use can lead to fluid retention which in turn can aggrevate pre-existing blood pressure problems and cardiac problems. There are other side effects but they are less common. Generally the drug does more good than harm and can greatly improve the quality of life of people who suffer from inflammatory arthritis. It is also used as an adjunct in the management of long term pain rquiring opioids. When used in this way the dose of the opioid can be reduced significantly.
Thank you for using Allexperts
Sincerely,
Eric Brandt, B.Sc. Pharm
