# Voltarène - facts?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voltarene-facts/218865>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 14, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voltarene-facts/218865 "2003-12-14T01:01:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voltarene-facts/218865/1 "2003-12-14T01:01:45Z")

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What are the details about the medicine Voltarène? It is a small pink triangular pill with the letters “ID” imprinted. I suspect it’s European. What does it treat?

- Rick

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voltarene-facts/218865/2 "2003-12-14T01:52:49Z")

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[Here the French page describing it’s use and indicators.](http://www.imageriedusport.com/medicaments/index_medicaments-ains-voltarene.htm)

It appears to be for rheumatism and arthritis.

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voltarene-facts/218865/3 "2003-12-14T01:55:45Z")

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AKA Diclofenac

[Here is the English page](http://www.diclofenac.com/)  
Here’s a little bit of it.

> [@](#):
>
> Diclofenac
> 
> (dye kloe’ fen ak)  
> Brand name(s): Cataflam; Voltaren
> 
> Why is this medication prescribed?
> 
> Diclofenac is used to relieve the pain, tenderness, inflammation (swelling), and stiffness caused by arthritis and gout. It also is used to relieve other pain, including menstrual pain and pain after surgery or childbirth.
> 
> This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

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**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voltarene-facts/218865/4 "2003-12-14T01:59:00Z")

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Ok we get it under the name Voltaren (and another version called Brufen or another called Cataflam). Basically it is an anti-inflammatpry drug, of particular effectiveness for soft tissues injuries and bruises.

The agent is Sodium Diclofenac, you probably see it under various other brand names. Fairly effective stuff.

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**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voltarene-facts/218865/5 "2003-12-14T18:51:53Z")

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I have used it for period pain. I call them my magic pills. Wonderful stuff!

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**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voltarene-facts/218865/6 "2003-12-14T22:48:59Z")

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It’s from a drug family called NSAID (Non Steroid Anti Inflammatory Drug), which is used for treating a lot of arthritis (which I have). Brufen is in the same family, but the active ingredient is Ibuprofen.  
Voltaren is made by Novartis, which formed by a merger of (in)famous Ciba-Geigy and Zandos.

NSAID are a sort of heavier Aspirin. By that I mean that when a doctor wants to give you a more potent medicin that sort of catches all, NSAIDs are commonly used. Side effects are about the same as for any pain killer.