1. < Bones, Joints & Muscles

Voltaren gel

Posted by toddybob @toddybob, Sep 19, 2022

My wife has chronic pain in her hip and hamstring. MRI negative. Physical Therapy no help. Acupuncture no help. Is Voltaren gel safe to try? I read it can cause liver damage.

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wieczorkemaria | @wieczorkemaria | Oct 9, 2023
In reply to @seniormed "I use diclofenac gel generic with few concerns. Very little is absorbed through the skin. Most..." + (show)
@seniormed

I use diclofenac gel generic with few concerns.
Very little is absorbed through the skin. Most warnings
apply to higher doses taken by mouth. No need for
gloves unless you are allergic to NSAIDs and applying it
as a caregiver. It is available as eye drops.

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hello seniormed, I learned something new I was not aware it is available as an eye drop. I better not go there since with the sjogrens, I have dry everthing. Skin, hair nails, eye nasal, etc and get ocular migranes due to the dry eye. I get punctual plugs and use med drop and restasis daily. Good information but I'll stick to the gel which I found was better than the lotion although a lil greasier.
Here's to a good day!
Maria

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jap57 | @jap57 | Oct 9, 2023
In reply to @delia74 "Yes, this gel does have the potential to cause liver damage. I have liver cysts so..." + (show)
@delia74

Yes, this gel does have the potential to cause liver damage. I have liver cysts so I am very careful about what I apply or ingest. That is why I stopped applying Voltaren after learning the info from reputable sources. I had applied it on lumbar region for about three weeks. That was over 16 yrs ago. My husband was prescribed the gel and I made him aware of the caveats, but he insisted that he'd use it on an "absolutely too much pain" basis. I am very uneasy with his using this medication, and I wear nitrile gloves when applying it very sparingly on painful areas on his back. He finds OTC creams/gels pretty useless and odiferous. I can't take prescription pain meds so I apply heating pad, take Aleve (what my primary told me to take sparingly since it can raise my blood pressure), apply Blue Emu cream (works for me; has no odor), and listen to my body telling me to slow down/rest, which I have to do since my entire body is affected when there is high pain in any given area.
If you decide to use the Voltaren, do apply it very sparingly and only on the affected areas. Use gloves, dispose of them afterwards, wash hands thoroughly anyway. And make sure that bloodwork includes testing liver enzymes, etc.

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I have tried Voltaren. It didn’t work for me. The instructions give specific information on amount to use. If you are applying sparingly you may not be getting a full dose. Ibuprofen, Tylenol, and other OTC painkillers can also cause liver problems. This usually doesn’t occur unless you use to much over a long period time. My doctor said the same with Voltaren.

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1 reply
delia74 | @delia74 | Oct 9, 2023
In reply to @jap57 "I have tried Voltaren. It didn’t work for me. The instructions give specific information on amount..." + (show)
@jap57

I have tried Voltaren. It didn’t work for me. The instructions give specific information on amount to use. If you are applying sparingly you may not be getting a full dose. Ibuprofen, Tylenol, and other OTC painkillers can also cause liver problems. This usually doesn’t occur unless you use to much over a long period time. My doctor said the same with Voltaren.

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You make valid points.
We don't use Tylenol, etc. But Voltaren is especially risky so it cannot be placed in same category as far as what your doctor stated.
When I say "sparingly," I don't mean "just a dab." For what I do apply on his back, it does bring him some relief. And I apply it on him only when pain level is high, such as 7 -8 out of 10. We know that the cream comes with guidelines but the least amount that will still bring the most possible relief is all my husband wants. He has too many other health issues (including severe reactions from prior prescribed medications) for him to expose himself to yet another problem.
It comes down to personal decision, and this is what he's comfortable with,

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wieczorkemaria | @wieczorkemaria | Oct 9, 2023
In reply to @juneblond "Don't give up Maria. I do know how you feel though. It's so hard to find..." + (show)
@juneblond

Don't give up Maria. I do know how you feel though. It's so hard to find any decent Drs. where I live. But there are a few more I can try, so I guess I will. The side effects of pills are bad, but what can we do? Try to keep up with whatever you can do. Maybe take a break from it all for awhile if you can, then get back refreshed.

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Thank you. I wish I could take a break. Never ending 360 BS to deal with. No breathers.
Can't seem to outrun this black cloud over my head. And on top of my medical illnesses, drs. meds interactions, etc. etc. my partner went into septic shock 6/22 and they took him in for Emer surgery. He had Necrotizing Faciltis, that flesh-eating bacteria. He was critical condition and we almost lost him It spread so fast and was so severe they took his whole lower back side, perinum area, buttocks and down the right leg to the bone and muscle and had to be air-lifted from Erie ICU at allegheny in Pitts. Where he remained on a ventilator, colostomy bag, feeding tube, catheter and near death. It was so overwhelming. Our lifes (his almost taken) were turned upside down in an instant. He's coming along, still critical and receiving wound care. I was told if i hadn't taken him to the ER that morning before work he would have been dead by 4 p. That's how severe and fast moving it was. The bacteria from hell. its like something out of a horror flick. A frigen nightmare that I can't seem to wake up from. I work ft too so taking a break isn't an option but BREATHING and prayers are, Thank you and have a good day.

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2 replies
wieczorkemaria | @wieczorkemaria | Oct 9, 2023
In reply to @wieczorkemaria "Thank you. I wish I could take a break. Never ending 360 BS to deal with...." + (show)
@wieczorkemaria

Thank you. I wish I could take a break. Never ending 360 BS to deal with. No breathers.
Can't seem to outrun this black cloud over my head. And on top of my medical illnesses, drs. meds interactions, etc. etc. my partner went into septic shock 6/22 and they took him in for Emer surgery. He had Necrotizing Faciltis, that flesh-eating bacteria. He was critical condition and we almost lost him It spread so fast and was so severe they took his whole lower back side, perinum area, buttocks and down the right leg to the bone and muscle and had to be air-lifted from Erie ICU at allegheny in Pitts. Where he remained on a ventilator, colostomy bag, feeding tube, catheter and near death. It was so overwhelming. Our lifes (his almost taken) were turned upside down in an instant. He's coming along, still critical and receiving wound care. I was told if i hadn't taken him to the ER that morning before work he would have been dead by 4 p. That's how severe and fast moving it was. The bacteria from hell. its like something out of a horror flick. A frigen nightmare that I can't seem to wake up from. I work ft too so taking a break isn't an option but BREATHING and prayers are, Thank you and have a good day.

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I guess my post was out of the topic realm. Sorry.

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John | @johnnoregon | Oct 9, 2023

Voltraen's liver warning is enough for me. I have a transplanted liver. I'm "ultra-vigiliant", as my PCP calls me, enough to not use it, regardless of any pharmacist or doctor that's not a hepatologist, for that matter, say about it. I know the argument that I have to use it non-stop over a long time for it to do that. Until my transplant hospital approves it, and they haven't addressed it yet, it's off-limits.

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1 reply
juneblond | @juneblond | Oct 9, 2023
In reply to @wieczorkemaria "Thank you. I wish I could take a break. Never ending 360 BS to deal with...." + (show)
@wieczorkemaria

Thank you. I wish I could take a break. Never ending 360 BS to deal with. No breathers.
Can't seem to outrun this black cloud over my head. And on top of my medical illnesses, drs. meds interactions, etc. etc. my partner went into septic shock 6/22 and they took him in for Emer surgery. He had Necrotizing Faciltis, that flesh-eating bacteria. He was critical condition and we almost lost him It spread so fast and was so severe they took his whole lower back side, perinum area, buttocks and down the right leg to the bone and muscle and had to be air-lifted from Erie ICU at allegheny in Pitts. Where he remained on a ventilator, colostomy bag, feeding tube, catheter and near death. It was so overwhelming. Our lifes (his almost taken) were turned upside down in an instant. He's coming along, still critical and receiving wound care. I was told if i hadn't taken him to the ER that morning before work he would have been dead by 4 p. That's how severe and fast moving it was. The bacteria from hell. its like something out of a horror flick. A frigen nightmare that I can't seem to wake up from. I work ft too so taking a break isn't an option but BREATHING and prayers are, Thank you and have a good day.

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Maria. I don't even know what to say! To go through something like that is unbelievable!! How does a person get that? Of course you have my prayers. Is he still in the hospital? I know how suddenly things can happen. My husband, in 1999, who never had headaches, got a headache one Sat. A.M., he said it wasn't too bad & would lay down, then it got BAD, I called 911 and then got ready to drive to the hospital. When I got there, they said they were going to drill a hole in his head to drain it! I'm like "What the Hell?" OMG! Then he went into a coma and the next day he had brain surgery. Into another coma, he didn't know me when waking up. Eventually he did, but never could bare weight again so never walked, & he was 6'2", in a wheelchair, the nursing homes were terrible, we tried 3. This was in Madison, WI. I quit my job, brought him home & cared for him for 10 years when he passed away. It was hard work, & never was really the man I knew, couldn't talk well. but yet I could see the real him I knew inside. Life is full of surprises for sure. Let me know how things are with him. And you. Take care, Nancy

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delia74 | @delia74 | Oct 9, 2023
In reply to @johnnoregon "Voltraen's liver warning is enough for me. I have a transplanted liver. I'm "ultra-vigiliant", as my..." + (show)
@johnnoregon

Voltraen's liver warning is enough for me. I have a transplanted liver. I'm "ultra-vigiliant", as my PCP calls me, enough to not use it, regardless of any pharmacist or doctor that's not a hepatologist, for that matter, say about it. I know the argument that I have to use it non-stop over a long time for it to do that. Until my transplant hospital approves it, and they haven't addressed it yet, it's off-limits.

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I'm with you and your approach about being supervigilant and super cautious.
I had (yes, totally past tense) a rheumatologist who prescribed tyelonol with tramadol about 30 yrs ago, ignorant of the fact that tramadol is contraindicated if patient is on cyclobenzeprine, which I was since she had prescribed the cyclo upon diagnosing very painful fibromyalgia. ONE dose that night and I hallucinated, felt like I was floating out of my body, and had night terrors. From ONE pill! When I told her about the effects of what she had prescribed, I did so in person. Paid a copay but it was so worth it to see her face become slack, and even more so when I informed her that my research specified the contraindication....needless to say, I left her practice. All she could say was "I'm so sorry.." Seriously? She should have known but instead her cluelessness impacted me horrifically. Since then, I became very invested in knowing as much as possible about any proposed medication, with no qualms or apologies for firmly turning down what is being prescribed.
Doctors that can't or won't respect that are not on my medical team.

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1 reply
purpleturtle | @purpleturtle | Oct 9, 2023

I'd you you use Voltran and have a dog be very careful not to let them get it on them. It is very dangerous for dogs

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1 reply
dablues | @dablues | Oct 10, 2023
In reply to @wieczorkemaria "oh no. I use it regularly. My liver is one thing that my systemic illness haven't..." + (show)
@wieczorkemaria

oh no. I use it regularly. My liver is one thing that my systemic illness haven't targeted yet. Everything else u nder the sun. Been ill most of my life and we keep adding to the list. I am sad to hear this because I use it everyday.
Everything causes side effects even anti-inflammatory creams. WTH. As the saying goes and whick is true, take a pill, get a side effect and take a another pill for the side effect, and the chase begins. Wishing health and happiness to everyone. Trying to manage all the illnesses, meds, drs., appts. tests bloodwork, personal family issues, major depression and anxiety, I can't take it anymore and have almost given up....
God Bless.
Maria

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The side effects of most meds, is almost worse than what you have. I'm sick of all the meds, and most don't even work on me.

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