Difanac (diclofenac sodium injection) 5 x 75mg/3ml Amps £15

Made by T.P. Drug Laborities

Diclofenac belongs to the class of drugs known as NSAIDs and is widely prescribed to treat post operative pain due to its combination of effectiveness and tolerability. The mechanism of action of diclofenac appears to be associated with inhibiting the body’s ability to synthesize prostaglandins. The body produces prostaglandins in response to tissue injury that in turn results in inflammation and pain. NSAIDs offer several advantages over opioids for the management of post operative pain. NSAIDs have limited effect on the central nervous system, do not depress respiration, and are non-sedating. This latter attribute is of special importance in intermediate, ambulatory surgery since NSAIDs can provide analgesia without delaying patient discharge from the hospital or outpatient setting. In addition, NSAIDs are also useful in patients who cannot take opioids.

The development of injectable formulations of diclofenac has been limited by the drug’s poor solubility. The potential to overcome these issues and provide an effective and safe treatment of moderate-to-severe post-operative pain. Diclofenac’s decades-long record of clinical use, and the fact that it is not classified as a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, render it especially attractive in the present climate of concern over the safety of COX-2 inhibitors.

Difenac is for the treatment of post-operative pain and acute forms of pain, including renal colic, exacerbations of osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis, acute back pain, acute gout, acute trauma and fractures in addition to post-operative pain.

Initial studies of Difenac, when administered by intravenous or intramuscular injection, have demonstrated safety, rapid onset of action and bioequivalence to Voltarol®. Published results from a 269-patient randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind post operative pain phase II clinical trial demonstrate Difenac provided a rapid drop in pain intensity. At all dosage levels tested, Difenac provided statistically significant post operative pain relief through 6 hours (p <0.05) and was safe and well-tolerated by patients. The results of this clinical study were published in 2000 in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. In October 2003, A randomized, four-way cross-over phase I trial comparing the pharmacokinetics, bioequivalence and safety of Difenac to Voltarol®. Difenac was found to be bioequivalent to Voltarol® regardless of intravenous infusion time and was safe and well tolerated by patients. When administered intravenously and intramuscularly. Difenac was found to be bioequivalent to Voltarol® regardless of the method of administration and was safe and well tolerated.