Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Some side effects can be serious. Stop using this medicine and contact your doctor immediately if you notice:
Mild abdominal cramps and abdominal pain on palpation that begins shortly after starting treatment with diclofenac 50 mg followed by rectal bleeding or bloody diarrhoea normally observed within 24 hours of the onset of abdominal pain (often unknown, cannot be determined from the available data).
Other side effects that have been reported with the use of diclofenac are as follows:
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Nervous system disorders: headache, dizziness, ear and labyrinth disorders, vertigo
Gastrointestinal disorders: sickness, vomiting, diarrhoea, acidity, abdominal pain, gases, lack of appetite
Hepatobiliary disorders: disturbances in the results of blood tests on the functioning of the liver (increase in serum transaminases)
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Rash on the skin
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Cardiac disorders (at high doses during prolonged treatment): palpitations, sudden severe chest pain (symptoms of myocardial infarction or heart attack), shortness of breath, difficulty lying down, swelling of the feet and legs (signs of heart failure) If these symptoms appear, immediately consult your doctor
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
Immune system disorders: swelling of the face, eyes, or tongue, difficulty swallowing, gasping, hives, and general itching, skin rash, fever, abdominal cramps, chest discomfort or tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, unconsciousness (severe allergic reaction) If these symptoms appear, immediately consult your doctor.
Nervous system disorders: drowsiness
Cardiac system disorders: chest pain, which can be a sign of a potentially serious allergic reaction called Kounis syndrome
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: asthma
Gastrointestinal disorders: stomach ache, reflux, bloody diarrhoea, gastric or intestinal ulcer with or without bleeding or perforation (vomiting blood and appearing blood in stool).
Hepatobiliary disorders: impaired liver function, hepatitis with or without yellowing
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: hives
General disorders and administration site conditions: fluid retention with swelling (oedema)
Very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
Blood and lymphatic system disorders: signs of lack of blood cells leading to tiredness, headache, shortness of breath when exercising, dizziness, paleness (anaemia), frequent infections with fever, chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers (leukopenia), bleeding or more bruising than normal (thrombocytopenia)
Immune system disorders: swelling on the face
Psychiatric disorders: disorientation, depression, insomnia, nightmares, irritability, psychotic reactions
Nervous system disorders: Tingling sensation, memory disorders, seizures, anxiety, tremor, meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain) with symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, stiff neck, or extreme sensitivity to bright light.