Cataflam

Cataflam is a prescription medication used to treat inflammation and pain caused by a variety of conditions such as arthritis and migraines.

Cataflam belongs to a group of drugs called NSAIDs, which work by stopping the substances in the body that cause inflammation and pain.

Cataflam comes in tablet form. Cataflam can be taken up to four times a day, depending on what is being treated.

Common side effects of Cataflam include nausea, upset stomach, stomach pain, and dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Cataflam can affect you.

Cataflam is a prescription medication used to treat mild to moderate pain as well as treat pain due to due to a variety of conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and dysmenorrhea.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

The most common side effects of Cataflam include the following:

• swelling
• nausea
• headache
• dizziness
• vomiting
• constipation
• pruritus
• pain in extremity
• upset stomach

This is not a complete list of Cataflam side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• other NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen
• 'blood thinners' such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• voriconazole (Vfend)
• angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) blockers such as
  • benazepril (Lotensin, Lotensin HCT)
  • captopril (Capoten, Capozide)
  • enalapril (Vasotec, Vaseretic)
  • fosinopril (Monopril, Monopril HCT)
  • lisinopril (Prinivil, Prinzide, Zestril, Zestoretic)
  • moexipril (Univasc, Uniretic)
  • quinapril (Accupril, Accuretic, Quinaretic)
  • ramipril (Altace)
  • trandolapril (Mavik, Tarka)
• diuretics such as
  • acetazolamide (Diamox)
  • amiloride (Midamor)
  • bumetanide (Bumex)
  • chlorothiazide (Diuril)
  • chlorthalidone (Thalitone)
  • ethacrynic acid (Edecrin)
  • furosemide (Lasix)
  • hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, HCTZ)
  • metolazone (Zaroxolyn)
  • torsemide (Demadex)
  • triamterene (Dyrenium, Dyazide, Maxzide)
• methotrexate (Trexall)
• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
• cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)

This is not a complete list of Cataflam drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Do not use Cataflam if you are allergic to diclofenac (the active ingredient), any inactive ingredient, or aspirin.

• Cataflam is an NSAID medication. NSAIDs have been linked to stomach and intestinal bleeding, ulcers, heart attack, stroke, congestive heart failure, allergic reactions, and worsening asthma.
• Tell your doctor right away if you experience symptoms of ulcers or bleeding including:
  • black, tarry stools
  • blood in stools
  • stomach pain
  • vomiting blood
• Call 911 if you experience heart attack symptoms:
  • chest discomfort (uncomfortable pressure, fullness, or pain in chest)
  • shortness of breath
• Cataflam can also cause or worsen existing hypertension. Blood pressure should be monitored closely during treatment with Cataflam treatment.
• Fluid retention and swelling have been observed in those who have taken NSAIDs. Cataflam should be used with caution in patients with fluid retention or heart failure.
• Kidney injury may occur with long-term use. Cataflam should be used with caution in patients at greatest risk of this, including the elderly, those with impaired kidney function, heart failure, liver dysfunction, and those taking diuretics and ACE inhibitors.
• Severe allergic reactions have occurred in patients with the aspirin triad or in patients without prior exposure to Cataflam. Tell your healthcare provider about any signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity, which include the following:
  • chest pain
  • swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • rash
• Serious skin adverse events have occurred with Cataflam use. Discontinue Cataflam if rash or other signs of a skin reaction occur.
• Cataflam can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Cataflam can affect you.

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Cataflam there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Cataflam.

Before using Cataflam, tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to any medications, foods, or dyes
• have asthma or nasal polyps
• have heart, liver, or kidney disease
• have ulcers or stomach bleeding
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

This medication falls into category C. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Cataflam should be used during pregnancy only if the possible benefit outweighs the possible risk to the unborn baby.

NSAIDs can adversely affect the development of the unborn baby's cardiovascular system. Avoid use of Cataflam, and other NSAIDS,  during pregnancy (particularly late pregnancy).

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Cataflam is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby.

Cataflam comes in tablet form and is taken 3 or 4 times a day, with or without food.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

• For the relief of osteoarthritis the recommended dosage is 100-150 mg/day in divided doses, 50 mg 2 or 3 times a day.
• For the relief of rheumatoid arthritis the recommended dosage is 150-200 mg/day in divided doses, 50 mg 3 or 4 times a day.

If you take too much Cataflam, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Cardiovascular Risk

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, myocardial infarction, and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may increase with duration of use. Patients with cardiovascular disease or risk factors for cardiovascular disease may be at greater risk.
• Diclofenac is contraindicated for the treatment of perioperative pain in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Gastrointestinal Risk

• NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal. These events can occur at any time during use and without warning symptoms. Elderly patients are at greater risk for serious gastrointestinal events.