What Factors Affect Diclofenac Dosage?

The factors affecting diclofenac dosage include the condition being treated, patient response, and the formulation of the drug. Other issues like patient age and medications or medical conditions could slightly impact dose amounts. Generally, this non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) is given in fairly low amounts, to a daily maximum of 200 milligrams (mg).

The recommended diclofenac dosage is influenced most by the condition it treats. For rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis the usual amount prescribed is 100-150 mg per day. The dose could be given once in a 100 mg extended release pill or it might be split into halves or thirds which are taken at more frequent intervals. For ankylosing spondylitis, 100-125 mg might be the appropriate daily limit, and it is often taken in four to five small doses each day.

Sometimes this medication is recommended for other conditions. For example, it might be used to treat pain of a variety of kinds. The specific diclofenac dosage in these instances could most depend on patient response. In rare cases, children have used this drug for pain relief, but this typically isn’t recommended.

Alternately, the drug could be prescribed for conditions like painful menstrual periods, with three doses a day for a total of 150 mg. Another suggestion is to use the medication for conditions like migraine without aura. A common diclofenac dosage guideline is to use 50 mg of the drug in an oral solution form when a migraine first begins.

For any condition, a range is often provided for the specific recommended dosage. Sometimes patients respond to lower amounts, and there is no need to give more than is adequate. On other occasions, a higher amount of the medication may be justified to better control pain and discomfort. In most cases, it’s recommended that another medication be tried if the suggested maximum diclofenac dosage isn’t bringing relief.

One aspect of diclofenac dosage is particularly confusing. The medication is available in regular and extended release types, in addition to an oral solution, which is mixed with a few ounces of water. The milligram amounts of each preparation are not identical in strength. For example, a 100 mg extended release pill, isn't often thought equivalent to 150 mg of a regular release formulation. Thus specific recommended amounts may vary based on drug type.

There aren’t that many drug interactions with this NSAID, but some of them might necessitate dosing adjustments. Generally, changes to the standard recommended amounts aren’t required for diseases like liver or kidney disease. On the other hand, certain medical conditions, like heart disease and gastrointestinal illness, could completely contraindicate diclofenac.