Diclofenac Use in Patients with Hepatitis

Alternative Pain Management Options

• Acetaminophen may be a safer alternative for pain management in patients with hepatitis, though dose limitations must be observed to prevent additional hepatotoxicity 1
• The American Geriatrics Society suggests that for patients requiring an NSAID, naproxen has been shown to have a better hepatic safety profile than diclofenac, with a lower risk of hepatotoxicity 2

Additional Considerations

• Diclofenac can also cause renal toxicity and hypertension, which may further complicate management of patients with hepatitis, and is associated with a 54% increased risk of recurrent myocardial infarction and 140% increased mortality risk compared to placebo in patients with cardiovascular disease 2