Long-term use of diclofenac patches carries systemic health risks
the verdict
REFUTED
the evidence says no
confidence 16/100
Evidence indicates that topical diclofenac formulations, such as patches and gels, result in significantly lower systemic absorption compared to oral administration and are not associated with increased systemic health risks.
Evidence against · 4
Topical NSAIDs for chronic musculoskeletal pain in adults
2016 · cited by 387
This systematic review found that reporting of systemic adverse events for topical NSAIDs was poor, but where reported there was no difference compared to carrier, and serious adverse events were infrequent and not different from placebo.
See more details
More against · 3
Relative efficacy and safety of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for osteoarthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and observational studies
2018 · cited by 227
This network meta-analysis found that while diclofenac patches were effective for osteoarthritis pain, they were not associated with increased systemic adverse events.
Systemic Bioavailability of Topical Diclofenac Sodium Gel 1% Versus Oral Diclofenac Sodium in Healthy Volunteers
2010 · cited by 121
This study demonstrated that systemic exposure to topical diclofenac is 5- to 17-fold lower than oral formulations, resulting in minimal systemic effects and primarily mild local skin reactions.
Topical Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
2012 · cited by 94
This review notes that topical diclofenac formulations provide local drug delivery while minimizing systemic concentrations and are not significantly associated with the systemic adverse events typical of oral NSAIDs.