Aspercreme vs. Voltaren Gel: Which Is Better for Arthritis Pain?
Key takeaways:
Aspercreme is a brand name for a line of over-the-counter pain relief products. Classic Aspercreme contains trolamine salicylate, a medication related to aspirin.
Voltaren gel’s active ingredient is diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It helps lower inflammation (swelling) around the area where you apply it.
Aspercreme and Volteran gel are both available as brand-name medications. But you can also find them as lower-cost generics. GoodRx can help make your prescription more affordable.
Table of contents
Many of us know the pain that comes with osteoarthritis (OA). Mornings tend to come with stiffness, and it can be tough to get out of bed. And simple, everyday activities can cause joint aches. Over 32 million U.S. adults experience these symptoms.
When OA pain strikes, many people head to their local pharmacy looking for relief. They’re often greeted with several different options, including pain relief creams and gels. But which one do you choose?
Let’s compare two of the most popular topical pain relief medications: Aspercreme and Voltaren gel.
Search and compare options
What is Aspercreme?
When most people hear the name Aspercreme, they think of a pain relief cream they can find in pharmacies or grocery stores. But Aspercreme is a brand name for a line of pain relieving products, including:
Gels
Creams
Roll-on solutions
Sprays
Patches
These topical (applied to the skin) products may contain one of a few ingredients. For this article, when we mention Aspercreme, we’re referring to the original Aspercreme pain relief cream. The active ingredient in the original Aspercreme is trolamine salicylate.
What conditions can Aspercreme treat?
According to its label, Aspercreme can temporarily relieve mild pain related to the following conditions:
How does Aspercreme work for arthritis pain?
The active ingredient in Aspercreme is trolamine salicylate, a medication related to aspirin. Trolamine salicylate works by stopping the production of enzymes (proteins) that cause pain and inflammation (swelling). Fewer of these enzymes means less pain and swelling.
Aspercreme only works around the area where you apply it. So when used as directed, very little of the medication reaches your bloodstream.
What is Voltaren gel?
Voltaren is a brand name for the medication diclofenac. Originally, Voltaren was offered in pill form and then later as a prescription-only topical gel. In February 2020, the FDA approved Voltaren gel to be sold as an over-the-counter (OTC) product.
What conditions can Voltaren gel treat?
Voltaren gel can be used to treat joint pain caused by arthritis. It’s recommended to only use it on the following areas:
Hands
Wrists
Elbows
Feet
Ankles
Knees
How does Voltaren gel work for arthritis pain?
The active ingredient in Voltaren gel is diclofenac. Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). NSAIDs also block the production of the same enzymes as Aspercreme. This helps relieve pain and inflammation. Other NSAIDs you may be more familiar with are Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen).
How do you use Aspercreme and Voltaren gel?
Aspercreme is recommended for adults and children over 12 years old. Aspercreme should be used no more than 3 to 4 times daily. Apply a generous amount to the affected area and rub it in until the cream is absorbed into the skin.
Voltaren gel is recommended for adults ages 18 and older. Apply it to the affected joint(s) 4 times a day for up to 21 days. It shouldn’t be applied to more than 2 areas of the body at one time. The gel comes with a dosing card to help you measure out the right amount to apply. Upper body areas, such as the hands, wrist, and elbows, should get 2.25 inches of the gel. Lower body areas, such as the feet, ankles and knees, should get 4.5 inches.
Voltaren gel can take up to 7 days to start working. So don’t give up on it after only a few days. But if no relief happens after that first week, stop using it and contact your healthcare provider for next steps.
With both medications it’s important to wash your hands after each use. It’s also not recommended to apply heat to or tightly bandage the area where you’ve applied the medication. Neither topical product should be applied to broken or open skin either.
How effective are Aspercreme and Voltaren gel for arthritis pain?
Unfortunately, there aren’t any clinical studies comparing Aspercreme and Voltaren gel. But we can review what we know about the effectiveness of each medication.
Clinical trials for Aspercreme are dated and limited. One small study from 1998 concluded that a single dose of trolamine salicylate applied to the hands was effective for OA pain within 45 minutes. A small study from 1982 found little difference between trolamine salicylate and a placebo cream (a cream with no medication in it) for OA knee pain.
Several studies suggest Voltaren gel is an effective treatment for arthritis pain. Some experts consider it a first choice for older adults with health conditions that may make oral NSAIDs unsafe. Others suggest Voltaren gel has limited effectiveness for arthritis pain, but still provides pain relief for some people.
What are the known side effects of Aspercreme and Voltaren gel?
Side effects are always a concern with any OTC or prescription medication. But both Aspercreme and Voltaren gel are well-tolerated. Things to watch for are new or worsening redness, irritation, or burning where you’ve applied the medication. If you experience any of these issues, wash off the area with cold water and contact your healthcare provider.
What are the serious side effects of Aspercreme and Voltaren gel?
Very little of the active ingredients in Aspercreme and Voltaren gel are absorbed into the bloodstream compared to oral pain relievers. So when used as directed, the risk of serious side effects is very low.
For Aspercreme, avoid using this product if you have an allergy to aspirin or other salicylates. Because Aspercreme contains salicylate, it carries a risk for Reye’s syndrome in children. Reye’s syndrome is a serious condition that can cause brain damage in children after taking aspirin products. Remember, Aspercreme isn’t recommended for children ages 12 or younger.
Avoid using Voltaren gel if you have an allergy to other NSAIDs, like ibuprofen or naproxen. You should avoid using Voltaren gel if you are expected to have, or have recently had, heart bypass surgery. Using NSAIDs around the time of this type of surgery can raise the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about your unique health conditions before using either one of these products.
What interactions do Aspercreme and Voltaren gel have?
Typically, there aren’t many interactions to worry about with Aspercreme and Voltaren gel.
Listed interactions for Voltaren gel are based on information about oral diclofenac. Because only small amounts of medication reach your bloodstream with Voltaren gel, its effects on other medications are minimal. But you should still review your current medication list with your healthcare provider and pharmacist before starting it.
One concern is using these topical medications with other products that contain similar ingredients. Using these products with other topical or oral NSAID products, like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, raises the risk for bleeding, including stomach bleeding.
Another question that may come up is whether you can continue using other topical medications, such as topical corticosteroids. This is especially true if you’re applying the medications to the same area of the body. Using multiple topical medications could change how one or both works. Ask your healthcare provider if you can use your topical medications together.
How to save on Aspercreme and Voltaren gel
Aspercreme and Voltaren gel are available OTC as brand-name medications. But you can also find them as lower-cost generics. GoodRx can help you save up to 90% off the average retail price of the generic versions of Aspercreme and Voltaren gel. Generic Aspercreme’s price at certain pharmacies is less than $6 with a free GoodRx discount. Generic Voltaren gel’s price at certain pharmacies is less than $4 with a free GoodRx discount.
Can you use Aspercreme and Voltaren gel together for arthritis pain?
No, this isn’t recommended. The active ingredients in Aspercreme and Voltaren gel work in similar ways. Combining them would raise the risk of more serious side effects. Additionally, Asperceme’s label warns not to use it at the same time as other topical pain relievers. So it’s best to only use one product at a time.
The bottom line
Both Aspercreme and Voltaren gel can be effective choices to relieve arthritis pain in adults. These OTC topical medications may be a better alternative if you can’t take oral pain relievers, like ibuprofen or naproxen. These medications are considered safe for most people when used as instructed.
The risk of side effects and medication interactions with Aspercreme and Voltaren gel is low. Talk with your healthcare provider about your unique health conditions to see if these products would be helpful in your situation.
Why trust our experts?
References
Alfaro, R. A., et al. (2021). Diclofenac. StatPearls.
Algozzine, G. J., et al. (1982). Trolamine salicylate cream in osteoarthritis of the knee. JAMA.
Bariguian Revel, F., et al. (2020). Topical diclofenac, an efficacious treatment for osteoarthritis: A narrative review. Rheumatology and Therapy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Osteoarthritis (OA).
DailyMed. (2021). Label: Aspercreme pain relieving.
Derry, S., et al. (2017). Topical analgesics for acute and chronic pain in adults — an overview of Cochrane Reviews. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Inc. (2022). Diclofenac sodium [OTC monograph].
PubChem. (2022). Trolamine salicylate.
Rothacker, D. Q., et al. (1998). Effectiveness of a single topical application of 10|x% trolamine salicylate cream in the symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis. Journal of Clinical Rheumatology: Practical Reports on Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal Diseases.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). Medication guide for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2020). FDA approves three drugs for nonprescription use through Rx-to-OTC switch process.
