K-Fenak tablet is a brand of diclofenac potassium, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) produced by Cipla and used to treat mild-to-moderate pain. It helps to relieve symptoms of arthritis (eg, osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis), such as inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and joint pain. This medicine does not cure arthritis and will only help you as long as you continue to take it.
K- Fenak tablets are also used to treat ankylosing spondylitis, which is a type of arthritis that affects the joints in the spine, and other painful conditions such as menstrual cramps. Diclofenac is also used to treat acute migraine attacks, with or without aura, in adults. It will not prevent or lessen the number of migraine attacks. K-Fenak comes in 50mg and 100mg capsules.
How should I take K-Fenak?
When used for severe or continuing arthritis, this medicine must be taken every day as ordered by your doctor in order for it to help you. This medicine usually begins to work within one week, but in severe cases up to two weeks or longer may pass before you begin to feel better. Several weeks may pass before you feel the full effects of this medicine.
The dose of K- Fenak will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
• Diclofenac potassium immediate-release tablets: 50 mg orally 2 or 3 times a day
• Diclofenac sodium extended-release tablets: 100 mg orally once a day
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of K-Fenak. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take K-Fenak exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
What are side effects of K-Fenak?
Side effects associated with the use of Diclofenac, include the following:
• Abdominal distention
• Gas
• Abdominal pain or cramps
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Indigestion
• Swelling (edema)
• Fluid retention
• Headache
• Nausea
• Peptic ulcer
• GI bleeding
• Itching
• Rash
• Ringing in the ears
• Acute hepatitis
• Agranulocytosis
• Asthma
• Aplastic anemia
• Asymptomatic hepatitis
• Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) greater than 40 mg/dL (greater than 14.3 mmol/L)
• Cholestasis
• Chronic active hepatitis
• Congestive heart failure (CHF)
• Decreased hemoglobin
• Nosebleed
• Fatal fulminant hepatitis
• Hemolytic anemia (may be autoimmune)
• Hepatocellular necrosis
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Yellowing skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Low white blood cell count (leukopenia)
• Kidney toxicity
• Purple-colored spots on the skin
• Serum creatinine greater than 2 mg/dL (greater than 177 µmol/L)
• Low levels of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia).
This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.
What medications can interact with K-Fenak?
Some products that may interact with K-Fenak include: aliskiren, ACE inhibitors (such as captopril, lisinopril), angiotensin II receptor blockers (such as valsartan, losartan), corticosteroids (such as prednisone), cidofovir, lithium, methotrexate, “water pills” (diuretics such as furosemide).
This medication may increase the risk of bleeding when taken with other drugs that also may cause bleeding. Examples include anti-platelet drugs such as clopidogrel, “blood thinners” such as dabigatran/enoxaparin/warfarin, among others.
Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully since many medications contain pain relievers/fever reducers (aspirin, NSAIDs such as celecoxib, ibuprofen, or ketorolac). These drugs are similar to diclofenac and may increase your risk of side effects if taken together. However, if your doctor has directed you to take low-dose aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke (usually 81-162 milligrams a day), you should continue taking the aspirin unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
