Diclofenac

Diclofenac

Part One

Diclofenac is a form of an acetic acid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAID that was developed in 1973 by Ciba-Geigy (Novartis) which operates by decreasing substances within the body that cause inflammation & discomfort.  Diclofenac is accessible as potassium or sodium salts which varies in terms of availability; these are phenyl acetic acid derivative which means that the API of diclofenac was crafted with the use of specific substituents to a preliminary phenyl acetic molecule whilst the dosage forms are as tablet, capsule, Powder for oral solution & IV injection whilst these various type of dosage forms target different parts of the body against inflammation. Incidence wise; diclofenac has many uses in hospitals with being only considered suitable when PR administration is required albeit it can’t be used  as a IM injection due to causing sterile abscess formation & severe pain. [pic 1][pic 2]

When you consider the pharmacodynamics of diclofenac, it’s extensively used to treat mild to adequate inflammation swelling & pain, or symptoms of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis which is a condition around 10m people have in the UK according to the NHS whilst it can also be used as treatment for conditions such as Acute gout, lower back pains, or Ankylosing Spondylitis; it is recommended that adults with osteoarthritis use 50/75mg doses orally of diclofenac capsule tablets whilst ensuring they don’t exceed 150mg daily or administer Voltaren gel (gel form of diclofenac) topically. Those with ankylosing spondylitis which is a chronic inflammatory disease of the axial skeleton are recommended to use 25mg of diclofenac & mustn’t surpass 100mg daily although an extra 25mg can be taken if needed; an oral route is also obtainable as a tablet to treat ankylosing spondylitis diclofenac tablets. Cataflam (diclofenac potassium) is also casted-off as a treatment for menstrual cramps, or better known as period pains. The oral powder type of Diclofenac (Cambia) is used to treat migraine headache albeit it can’t be used as a preventative treatment, it can only treat a headache that has already begun. As mentioned beforehand in this essay, Voltarol is diclofenac developed by a company known as Novartis; it has numerous forms of administration whether it is taken topically (ointment spray – Voltarol active) or orally (tablet – Voltarol pain-eze).

The anti-inflammatory effects of this drug is understood to occur because of reticence of both the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase (COX-1 & COX-2) & leukocyte migration. An example of a popular type of diclofenac is Voltarol; it contains diclofenac sodium & it works by stopping the action of a substance within our bodies known as cyclo-oxygenase (COX-1 & COX-2) as mentioned beforehand. COX is part of the construction of different chemicals in the body which are recognised as prostaglandins, this is crafted by the body as a response to injuries & certain diseases/conditions whilst causing pain or swelling; diclofenac has the ability to block the productions of prostaglandins which makes it very effective for reducing inflammation due to the inhabitation of COX & Antipyretic effects can be because of action on the bodies’ hypothalamus meaning a peripheral dilation.