Pfizer medications have become unbearable

Here is the breakdown on the various Voltaren options, just so we can all hunt for something with the exact same composition (and hopefully the same efficacy):
Voltaren
50mg diclofenac potassium
Inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, sucrose, colors E171, E172

Voltaren Forte
50mg diclofenac sodium
Inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, hypromellose, colors E171, E172

Voltaren Retard
I don't have it on hand, but if I recall correctly, the formula is identical to the Forte version, just with a higher dose of diclofenac sodium

Personally, only the fast-acting one actually touches my pain; the Forte and Retard versions don't do a thing for me, even after several hours. On the bright side, I managed to stock up on about twenty boxes of the fast-acting kind right before the news broke about the Voltaren recall, and they're good until 2012. 😁 I still have about ten left over.
God, it works so well...

I’d appreciate any help from those who might know of a high-quality alternative that shares that same base as the fast-acting version.

And honestly, all this talk about the fast-acting version being dangerous is somewhat exaggerated—it's only an issue if you abuse it by taking more than one pill every single day. If you're just using it occasionally, there's really nothing to fear for your health; several doctors have told me as much.

EDIT: (extra info)
In English, diclofenac potassium is referred to as "Diclofenac potassium," and here is the description regarding its mechanism and risks:
http://www.drugs.com/pro/diclofenac-potassium.html
http://www.tegobe.com/vademecumi/krk...tml#DJELOVANJE

Look, Michael Moore3, you could have picked up a generic Voltaren at any local pharmacy ages ago.🤷 Here’s what to look for: DICLOFENAC
It goes for about $5.00 10 capsules, and the ingredients are exactly the same...

The formulas aren't actually identical. They're similar, sure, but they aren't quite the same thing...

Michael Moore3 said:The formulas aren't actually identical. They're similar, sure, but they aren't quite the same thing...

They contain diclofenac🤷 which is really all that matters; everything else is just filler...😕

Well, I suppose you could just pick up the old Voltaren at any local pharmacy again...

stormyheron4 said:There’s actually another analgesic out there that hits fast and has the exact same formula as Voltaren or Diclofenac. The big plus? It won't mess with your stomach lining because it's designed to dissolve further down the digestive tract. The only catch is it isn't made by Pfizer, just a different manufacturer.

Honestly, it's wild seeing the nonsense people post when they clearly don't understand how medication actually works... look, the active ingredient in Voltaren is diclofenac, which falls under the category of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs... just like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin...). The whole mechanism behind the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effect relies entirely on blocking prostaglandin synthesis. Now, here's the catch: those prostaglandins are absolutely vital for building up the protective layer of the stomach lining. If you block them, that lining becomes much more sensitive and vulnerable to gastritis, ulcers, and bleeding—so there, I've explained why the side effects happen. Some people—and unfortunately, even some doctors—think these side effects don't exist if you're getting a Voltaren injection, a suppository, or whatever version of Diclofenac you're using that dissolves deeper in the GI tract... WRONG. The effect is systemic. They block prostaglandin synthesis in the brain, and regardless of how you get the diclofenac into your system, the risk of stomach damage remains exactly the same. As for Voltaren rapid, it simply doesn't exist; people have just become conditioned to it, and there's a huge psychogenic component to why they feel like Voltaren forte or Voltaren retard (which is the only one with slow release and should only be taken once a day) isn't working. If Voltaren isn't doing the trick for you, try Diclofenac (trust me, it is identical), or alternatives like ibuprofen, Excedrin, or even Tramadol and Zaldiar (though those are a bit tricky because they make quite a few people drowsy... personally, I recommend taking those at night before bed... some folks find it hard to handle them during the day)... and finally, I agree with the sentiment: bring back Voltaren rapid.

Zachary Kern6 said:Honestly, it's wild seeing the nonsense people post when they clearly don't understand how medication actually works... look, the active ingredient in Voltaren is diclofenac, which falls under the category of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs... just like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin...). The whole mechanism behind the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effect relies entirely on blocking prostaglandin synthesis. Now, here's the catch: those prostaglandins are absolutely vital for building up the protective layer of the stomach lining. If you block them, that lining becomes much more sensitive and vulnerable to gastritis, ulcers, and bleeding—so there, I've explained why the side effects happen. Some people—and unfortunately, even some doctors—think these side effects don't exist if you're getting a Voltaren injection, a suppository, or whatever version of Diclofenac you're using that dissolves deeper in the GI tract... WRONG. The effect is systemic. They block prostaglandin synthesis in the brain, and regardless of how you get the diclofenac into your system, the risk of stomach damage remains exactly the same. As for Voltaren rapid, it simply doesn't exist; people have just become conditioned to it, and there's a huge psychogenic component to why they feel like Voltaren forte or Voltaren retard (which is the only one with slow release and should only be taken once a day) isn't working. If Voltaren isn't doing the trick for you, try Diclofenac (trust me, it is identical), or alternatives like ibuprofen, Excedrin, or even Tramadol and Zaldiar (though those are a bit tricky because they make quite a few people drowsy... personally, I recommend taking those at night before bed... some folks find it hard to handle them during the day)... and finally, I agree with the sentiment: bring back Voltaren rapid.

Is there really any difference for the stomach between Diclofenac and Voltaren? Sounds to me like it's the same deal regardless of which one you grab.

So that would mean the people advertising Diclofenac are lying, because they market it specifically as a painkiller that's easier on the stomach than Voltaren. To be honest, I haven't heard anything from my own patients about stomach issues from Diclofenac, and I haven't seen any reports on it either, so for now, I'm taking the manufacturer's word for it.

So you're saying there's absolutely zero difference in terms of stomach irritation between Voltaren and Diclofenac. Where are you getting your info?

When it comes to Advil or Excedrin, they've been useless for toothaches in my experience—especially Excedrin. Advil works okay for some people. At least, that's the feedback I get from my patients.

Now look... you can find this info in basically any pharmacology textbook out there. The whole mechanism of an NSAID boils down to the central blockade of cyclooxygenase... and honestly, that’s where the science ends. Beyond that, it's all speculation. Some people actually believe that if you just inject the medication directly into the site of the pain, it'll somehow make things go faster. I've seen cases where people were getting Voltaren shots practically at kidney level—people will do anything, really. And as for the manufacturers? Well, lying is just part of their business model, isn't it?

Most NSAIDs registered here in the States are non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors, which basically means they hit both COX-1 and COX-2.

Because of that, they do a great job at knocking out inflammation symptoms from all sorts of rheumatic diseases, but—and this is the kicker—they almost always irritate the digestive tract lining (especially the stomach). It leads to those unpleasant issues like dyspepsia—you know, heartburn, bloating, and that sharp pain in your upper abdomen—as well as nausea and vomiting. In more severe cases, you can actually get erosion of the stomach lining leading to bleeding and ulcers.

Now, following the latest theoretical research, a newer generation of NSAIDs has hit the pharmaceutical market in recent years. These are what we call SELECTIVE COX-2 INHIBITORS. Their big advantage over the classic NSAID drugs is that while they provide the same "anti-rheumatic effect," they cause significantly fewer stomach troubles.

1). Classic non-selective NSAIDs

The most commonly used anti-rheumatic drugs on our market belong to the group of non-selective anti-rheumatic medications.
Based on their chemical structure, they can be broken down into:

a) Salicylic acid derivatives

acetylsalicylic acid—Bayer Aspirin

b) Pyrazolone derivatives

metamizole—Dipyrone

c) Octenoic acid derivatives

indomethacin—INDOMETHACIN

diclofenac—Voltaren, NAKLOFEN

d) Propionic acid derivatives

ibuprofen—IBUPROFEN, Advil, Motrin

ketoprofen—KETOFEN, KNAVON, KETONAL

naproxen—NAPROSYN, ALGESIN

e) Oxicam group members

piroxicam—LUBOR, ERAZON

tenoxicam—ARTROCAM

2). Selective NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors

Meloxicam (MOVALIS) is one of the primary options available. However, on the US market, a whole new class of selective cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors has been approved. We're talking about the coxib group—things like celecoxib (CELEBREX) and rofecoxib (VIOXX)—which are becoming much more standard.

manufacturers can just talk the talk

Hey, does anyone happen to know what the organizational structure looks like over at PepsiCo?