Voltaren, one of the trademarks under which diclofenac (aminoacetic acid, its active ingredient) is marketed, is one of the drugs considered "inhibitory", that is, it helps the progressive de-inflammation of areas affected by bruises or severe pain. It is a micro-relaxant, part of the family of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which also helps in alleviating the discomfort caused by arthritis and menstrual cramps. It can be administered orally, rectally, intramuscularly, intravenously (kidney and stones), topically.
Its mechanism of action has not been officially determined, only a series of theories have appeared of how it could prevent deflamation; What is known about it is its primary mechanism, by which it is capable of reducing pain and inflammation, this consisting of the deactivation of the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX), something that could also contribute to the subsequent effects. It can decrease the synthesis of prostaglandins in the stomach, which causes gastric acids to act quite aggressively on the walls of the stomach, creating ulcers in this organ.
The metabolization of this drug occurs in the liver and during its excretion, almost none of the remains that come out are unchanged, that is, those that if they go through this stage remain inside the body and remain for a few weeks or months. Urine is one of the means by which this drug can be expelled, as is bile. It does not affect the kidneys in any way, as this is not a disintegration pathway; for this reason it is not necessary to adapt the maximum dose if a patient suffers from this disease.
