People sometimes face pain in their joints or a headache, which sometimes becomes unbearable, due to which a person needs to take some kind of medication to treat the pain. In this kind of pain, the doctors prescribe them to consume medicines which contain Diclofenac.
It can be Diclofenac Sodium or Diclofenac Potassium.
Key Takeaways
- Both are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used to relieve pain, inflammation, and stiffness, but they differ in chemical forms: sodium and potassium salts.
- Diclofenac potassium is absorbed more rapidly, providing faster pain relief, while diclofenac sodium offers a slower onset of action.
- Diclofenac potassium is recommended for acute conditions, such as muscle sprains, while diclofenac sodium is more suitable for chronic conditions, like osteoarthritis.
Diclofenac Sodium vs Diclofenac Potassium
Diclofenac sodium is a drug that blocks inflammation and pain-causing substances and is used to treat the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. It is absorbed slowly in the body. Diclofenac potassium is a generic prescription drug used to treat mild to moderate pain and is absorbed more quickly into the body.
Diclofenac Sodium is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It is applied by using a dosing card which is available with the medicine. It is applied directly to the skin.
The medication has to be run on the surface where pain exists. The medication should be applied four times a day. This should not be applied to cuts as it can show side effects.
Diclofenac Potassium is used to treat mild pain. It is used when the pain is mild or moderate. It treats pain in the tooth, cramps, or muscles.
It is also termed a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It can treat arthritis, but this should be prescribed by the doctor. Its rate of speed is high.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Diclofenac Sodium | Diclofenac Potassium |
|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Less | More |
| Reactiveness | Slow | Fast |
| Usage | Mild Pain | Severe Pain |
| Chronic Muscle | Yes | No |
| Heartburn | Yes | No |
| Constipation | Yes | No |
What is Diclofenac Sodium?
Diclofenac Sodium is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It can also be referred to as the sodium salt of Diclofenac. It is a antipyretic and analgesic.
It has anti-inflammatory activity. It is stored in highly secure labs, with signs like a health hazard, environmental hazard, irritant, and acute toxicity.
It is considered a competitive inhibitor of cyclooxygenase. The arachidonic acid cannot be converted to any other precursors. It seizes the growth of the prostaglandins, which grow during pain or fever.
It releases the pain and makes you feel better. It cannot be consumed in a larger portion as the pain is a lot.
It has to be consumed in the proper amount. It has to be consumed as per the doctor’s prescription. Many other brands are there that sell these types of medicines under their name.
Those brands are Arthrotec, Solaraze, and Voltaren. The symptoms of Diclofenac Sodium are drowsiness, headache, diarrhoea, nausea, and many more.
It is also known as Voltaren overdose when the person consumes the medicine in a higher dose. The medicine has to be swallowed; otherwise, the medicine can increase the side effects.
The medicines are prescribed and always consumed as per the doctor’s instruction; otherwise, it can create problems in the body.
What is Diclofenac Potassium?
Diclofenac Potassium is one of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is used to treat Mild pain, or it can treat moderate pain. It treats the pain in the back, stomach, or teeth.
These conditions can slow you down and make you lazy about yourself. These conditions need instant treatment because they can stop you from doing your daily activities.
The dosage of the medicine should only be consumed after you prescribe the doctor. An overdose of the dosage can show adverse effects or side effects that cannot be controlled later on.
The dosage should be taken as much as prescribed by your doctor. The speed of reaction is faster, so it will quickly treat the pain.
The medicine can also decrease swelling or fever in the body. The medication is to be mixed with only water.
There should not be any liquid other than water. Sometimes it can make your stomach upset, so it should be consumed with food, antacid, or milk. Different brands sell this type of medicine.
The medications should always be started in the first phase of pain; otherwise, if the pain increases, it would be difficult to treat. Sometimes the pain can be a symptom of a big problem. The medication should be started in the first phase of the pain.
Main Differences Between Diclofenac Sodium and Diclofenac Potassium
- Diclofenac Sodium is less soluble than Diclofenac Potassium.
- The reactive process is slow in Diclofenac Sodium than in Diclofenac Potassium.
- Diclofenac Sodium is used in mild pain, but Diclofenac Potassium is used in severe pain.
- Diclofenac Sodium can also treat chronic muscle pain, but Diclofenac cannot treat chronic pain.
- Diclofenac Sodium can cause heartburn, but Diclofenac Potassium cannot cause heartburn.
- Diclofenac Potassium can cause constipation, and Diclofenac Sodium cannot cause constipation.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0099542808603664
- https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2005.02226.x
Last Updated : 14 July, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
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