Topical remedy for osteoarthritis
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Hello, my aunt is a 62-year-old woman who suffers from mild to moderate osteoarthritis in her knees. She visits the pharmacy on a Sunday while on vacation as she forgot to pack her prescription diclofenac gel and needs pain relief. The pharmacist contacts her insurer to initiate a vacation/lost medication override for the early refill but is not able to reach a representative. She asks whether there is anything over the counter that could help her. She has gastroesophageal reflux disease, and her doctor has asked her to avoid medications such as ibuprofen.
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@Abhik Advise your uncle that the Voltaren (diclofenac) 1% topical gel, marketed as Voltaren Arthritis Pain, has been approved for OTC use to provide temporary relief of joint pain from arthritis. Remind him to apply 4 grams of the gel to the affected knee(s) 4 times daily, with a maximum of 16 grams per joint per day.