Ibuprofen and diclofenac are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, usually shortened to NSAIDs. They can ease pain and inflammation, but the safest choice depends on your health, other medicines and how long treatment is needed. A familiar packet is not a substitute for checking suitability.[1]
Notice the everyday effects
Tablets can cause indigestion, stomach discomfort, nausea, diarrhoea, headaches or dizziness. Ask a pharmacist about symptoms that persist, and avoid driving while dizzy. Diclofenac gels and plasters generally cause fewer whole-body effects because less medicine enters the body, although skin irritation and other reactions remain possible.[1][2]
Consider stomach, kidney and heart health
NSAIDs can cause stomach ulcers or bleeding and can harm the kidneys. Previous ulcers, kidney disease, asthma or an earlier reaction to aspirin or an NSAID are reasons to check before using them.[1][4]
Heart attack and stroke risks can increase, including during short-term use; higher doses and longer treatment can raise risk further. Systemic diclofenac has specific restrictions for people with coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease, previous stroke, and certain forms of heart failure. The MHRA restriction concerns forms such as tablets and injections, rather than gels. Tell your prescriber about cardiovascular conditions and risk factors.[3][4]
Avoid overlapping medicines
Do not combine ibuprofen with diclofenac or another NSAID unless a clinician specifically directs it. Blood thinners, steroids, some antidepressants and blood-pressure medicines can also affect safety. If you take prescribed low-dose aspirin, check before adding a painkiller; do not stop the aspirin yourself.[1][4]
Pregnancy needs a separate check
Ask a healthcare professional before using an NSAID in pregnancy. The FDA advises avoiding them from 20 weeks unless specifically recommended, because they can affect the baby’s kidneys and reduce amniotic fluid. Later pregnancy adds fetal heart risks. This warning does not apply in the same way to clinician-prescribed low-dose aspirin for pregnancy-related conditions.[5]
Know when to act
Call your local emergency number for vomiting blood, chest pain, sudden weakness on one side, trouble speaking, breathing difficulty or throat swelling. Black, tar-like stools, severe stomach pain, or new breathlessness with swollen ankles need urgent medical assessment.[2]
Follow the product instructions or prescription, using the lowest effective dose for the shortest necessary time. If you keep needing pain relief, arrange a review of the cause, ongoing treatment and whether stomach protection is needed.[3][4]
This adult guide offers general safety information, not a personal treatment plan. A pharmacist or prescriber can assess your individual risks.
Editorial disclosure: General health education, not a personal diagnosis or treatment plan. References checked on 20 October 2026; no clinician-review claim is made. The retained featured image is an illustrative AI-generated image.
References
- NHS: Ibuprofen
- NHS: Diclofenac side effects
- MHRA: Diclofenac warnings
- NHS: NSAID heart attack and stroke risks
- FDA: Pregnancy warning
