Recommended Dosage and Application of Voltaren (Diclofenac) Cream for Topical Pain Relief

For topical pain relief, diclofenac 3% gel should be applied twice daily for 60-90 days to affected areas. 1

Dosage and Application Instructions

Apply 2 pump actuations (40 mg) directly to each painful knee, twice daily 2
Apply to clean, dry skin, spreading evenly around front, back, and sides of the affected area 2
Wash hands completely after application to avoid transferring medication to other areas 2
Wait until the treated area is completely dry before covering with clothing or applying other topical products 2
Avoid skin-to-skin contact between other people and the treated area until completely dry 2

Apply diclofenac 3% gel twice daily for 60-90 days for optimal results 1
Use as either a lesion-based or field-based treatment depending on the affected area 1
Extending treatment from 90 to 180 days may provide an additional 5% improvement in efficacy without significant increase in adverse effects 1

Multiple vehicle-controlled studies demonstrate that diclofenac gel is effective for pain relief 1
In clinical trials, diclofenac gel showed 70% clearance of target lesions compared to 44% with vehicle alone after 60 days of treatment 1
Another study showed 50% complete clearance with diclofenac gel versus 20% with vehicle alone after 90 days of treatment (p<0.001) 1
Diclofenac 2% topical solution applied twice daily demonstrated significantly greater pain reduction compared to vehicle control in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee 3

Causes less intense local skin reactions compared to other topical treatments 1
Provides high levels of patient satisfaction (73%) 1
Reduces systemic exposure compared to oral NSAIDs 3
Topical application minimizes gastrointestinal side effects commonly associated with oral NSAIDs 4
European guidelines recommend topical NSAIDs for osteoarthritis due to their favorable safety profile 3

Most common side effects include pruritus (41% after 30 days) and rash (40% after 60 days) 1
Some patients may experience modest skin irritation that typically resolves spontaneously 4
Avoid applying to open wounds 2
Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes 2
Do not apply external heat or occlusive dressings to treated areas 2
Avoid showering/bathing for at least 30 minutes after application 2
Do not use combination therapy with diclofenac topical solution and oral NSAIDs unless benefit outweighs risk 2

For osteoarthritis pain, diclofenac is considered a first-line topical therapy 1
Topical diclofenac is particularly useful for patients who are unwilling or unable to take oral NSAIDs 1
No dosage adjustments are required for elderly patients or those with renal or hepatic impairment 5
The efficacy of topical diclofenac is enhanced by its association with carriers that improve transcutaneous absorption 4