Flector

Flector is a prescription medication used to treat inflammation and pain caused by minor sprains, strains, or bruising.

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

Flector comes as a patch and is applied twice a day, every 12 hours. 

Common side effects of Flector include irritation and redness at the site of application.

Flector is a prescription medication used to treat inflammation and pain caused by minor sprains, strains, or bruising.

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

• King Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The most common side effects of Flector include the following:

• itching
• redness
• irritation
• rash
• dryness
• scaling or peeling

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

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

• Flector is an NSAID medication. Although Flector is applied to the skin, some of the medication is absorbed into the blood stream. 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
• Flector can also cause or worsen existing hypertension. Blood pressure should be monitored closely during treatment with Flector treatment.
• Fluid retention and swelling have been observed in those who have taken NSAIDs. Flector should be used with caution in patients with fluid retention or heart failure.
• Kidney injury may occur with long-term use. Flector 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 Flector. 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 Flector use. Discontinue Flector if rash or other signs of a skin reaction occur.

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 Flector there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Flector.

Before using Flector, 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 before 30 weeks gestation. Flector Patch should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Flector falls into category D starting 30 weeks gestation. NSAIDs can adversely affect the development of the unborn baby's cardiovascular system. Avoid use of Flector Patch, and other NSAIDS, in pregnant women starting 30 weeks gestation.

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

Flector comes in patch form to be applied to the most painful area twice a day. Be sure to remove the old patch before applying the next one.

• If Flector patch begins to peel-off, the edges of the patch may be taped down. If problems with adhesion persist, you may cover the patch with a mesh netting sleeve, where appropriate (e.g. to secure patches applied to ankles, knees, or elbows). The mesh netting sleeve (e.g. Curad Hold Tite, Surgilast Tubular Elastic Dressing) must allow air to pass through and not be occlusive (non-breathable).
• Do not apply Flector patch to non-intact or damaged skin (e.g. exudative dermatitis, eczema, infected lesion, burns, or wounds).
• Do not wear a Flector patch when bathing or showering.
• Wash your hands after applying, handling or removing the patch.
• Avoid eye contact.

The recommended dose of Flector patch is one (1) patch to the most painful area twice a day. 

If you apply too much Flector, 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.
• Flector 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.