Diflunisal, which is available by prescription, is commonly used to treat conditions related to pain, inflammation, and stiffness. Some of these conditions include symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as pain related to bone, muscle, or tendon injury. Diflunisal comes in tablet form and is usually taken twice a day. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and headache.
Diflunisal (
Dolobid®) is a prescription medicine used for mild to moderate pain relief, as well as inflammation and stiffness caused by
osteoarthritis or
rheumatoid arthritis. Diflunisal is in a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or
NSAIDs for short.
Diflunisal is manufactured by Merck & Co.
How Does Diflunisal Work?
Diflunisal and other NSAIDs are thought to work by inhibiting the action of certain hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. These hormones are called prostaglandins.
By blocking prostaglandins, diflunisal is useful at reducing pain related to bone, muscle, or tendon injury or inflammation, as well as alleviating pain and joint swelling associated with different
types of arthritis. Diflunisal is not a cure for
arthritis, however, nor does it affect the progression of the disease.
When and How Do I Take Diflunisal?
General considerations for when and how to take diflunisal include the following:
- Diflunisal comes in tablet form. It is generally taken two times a day (based on your healthcare provider's recommendation).
- To avoid an upset stomach, take your diflunisal with food or milk.
- Do not break, chew, or crush the diflunisal tablets.
- For diflunisal to work properly, you have to take it as prescribed. Diflunisal will not work if you stop taking it.
- It is important to take the lowest effective dose for the least amount of time in order to treat your condition. This will decrease the chances of serious side effects occurring.
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