Diclofenac rectal
| Diclofenac rectal | |
| What is it? | Non-opioid analgesic |
| Mechanism of action | Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory selective Cox-2 inhibitor |
| Starting dose | 50 mg 8–12 hourly prn |
| Time to onset of effect | 30 min17 |
| Formulation | Rectal suppository |
| Indication | Mild to moderate pain |
| Common adverse effects | Oedema; skin reactions; appetite decreased; diarrhoea; dizziness; gastrointestinal discomfort; gastrointestinal disorders; headache; nausea; rash (discontinue); vertigo; vomiting16 |
| Contraindications | Allergy to aspirin, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal bleeding or history of perforation16 |
| Caution | Hepatic impairment Renal failure16 |
| Licence | Licensed |
| Benefits | Alternative route of administration |
| Risks | Difficult to administer |
| Cost | £1.24 for 10×25 mg or £2.04 for 10×50 mg suppositories |