Is Voltaren Gel Available Over-the-Counter? Yes, Here’s Everything You Should Know

You can buy many medications, supplements, and devices over-the-counter (OTC) without a prescription. Among them, there’s a topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) available called Voltaren Arthritis Pain gel. It’s a pain-relieving treatment that contains the active ingredient diclofenac sodium 1%.

But, it wasn’t always available OTC. When Voltaren gel was first approved in 2007, it was a prescription-only medication. But in February 2020 — through a regulatory process referred to as “Rx-to-OTC switch” — the FDA approved it for OTC use.

Now, it’s a convenient option to ease joint pain caused by osteoarthritis in adults. Available as both a generic and brand-name product, it’s applied directly to the skin on and around painful joints.

What form of Voltaren is available OTC?

Voltaren gel OTC comes as a 1% gel packaged in a 100-gram tube. It’s available at pharmacies, many retailers, and online. The gel can be applied on specific joints throughout your upper and lower body.

Is prescription Voltaren gel stronger than the OTC version?

No. The OTC version of Voltaren gel is the same strength and formula as the original prescription-strength version of Voltaren gel.

It’s not branded as a Voltaren product, but there is a stronger diclofenac 3% gel available. This higher-dose gel is a prescription-only medication that’s approved to treat actinic keratosis, which is a skin condition caused by excessive sun exposure.

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How does Voltaren gel work?

Like other NSAIDs, Voltaren blocks an enzyme (protein) in the body called cyclooxygenase (COX). COX helps create prostaglandins, which are natural hormones that add to inflammation. By blocking COX, Voltaren lowers the number of prostaglandins in the affected area(s). This helps lessen pain and inflammation where it’s applied.

Diclofenac, the NSAID in Voltaren gel, is also available in different oral dosage forms. Since these forms are taken by mouth, the medication affects your body more broadly — unlike Voltaren gel. Oral and topical NSAIDs work similarly well, but topical products like Voltaren gel may be easier on your stomach.

How is Voltaren gel dosed and applied?

You can apply Voltaren gel to your affected joints up to 4 times daily. The amount of gel you apply with each dose depends on the part of the body that needs relief.

• Upper body (hands, wrists, elbows): Apply 2 g to each affected joint (up to two joints). Do not apply more than 8 g to a single joint in your upper body in a day.

• Lower body (feet, knees, ankles): Apply 4 g to each affected joint (up to two joints). Do not apply more than 16 g to a single joint in your lower body in a day.

To help make sure you apply the correct dose, there’s a dosing cardprovided in the product packaging. This card helps you figure out what 2 g and 4 g look like. You can use this dosing card as a guideline when applying the gel.

Once applied, gently massage the medication into your skin until it's fully rubbed in. But it doesn’t give instant relief — it may take up to a week to work. You can use Voltaren gel for up to 21 days (3 weeks) at a time.

Note: Voltaren gel is only meant for external use. Avoid getting the medication in your eyes, mouth, or nose. You also shouldn’t apply it to areas of skin that have a cut, rash, or infection. Speak with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before applying Voltaren gel to parts of the body that aren’t recommended by the medication’s label.

What are the side effects of Voltaren gel?

As mentioned above, Voltaren gel has less body-wide (systemic) side effects than oral NSAIDs. It’s generally well-tolerated, and its most common side effects are related to the skin. Possible skin-related side effects of Voltaren gel include:

• Dryness

• Irritation

• Itching

• Blisters

• Rash

• Redness

They’re far less common, but serious side effects from Voltaren gel are also possible. If you experience signs or symptoms of any of these side effects, contact your healthcare provider right away:

• New or worsening high blood pressure

• Kidney damage, including symptoms like urine changes or lower back pain

• Serious skin reactions, including rare reports of Stevens-Johnson syndrome

• Allergic reactions, including hives or trouble breathing

What’s more, Voltaren gel also has a boxed warning. This is the FDA’s most serious medication warning. All NSAIDs, including topical NSAIDs, may raise the risk of heart attack, stroke, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Thankfully, since little medication is absorbed into the bloodstream, the risk of these side effects is low.

If you’re already taking an NSAID — no matter if it’s OTC or prescription — speak with your healthcare provider before trying Voltaren gel OTC. This is also true if you have other medical conditions, such as kidney, liver, or heart problems. Contact them for advice if you experience any side effects that are bothersome, get worse, or don’t go away.

Are there any similar medications available OTC?

Yes. Oral NSAIDs and other topical pain-relieving products are available OTC.

If you have arthritis pain in larger areas of the body, your healthcare provider may recommend an oral NSAID over a topical NSAID. Some oral OTC NSAIDs are:

• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)

• Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)

• Aspirin 

If you want a topical medication but Voltaren isn’t the best option, other topical OTC products are also available. Possible options include:

• Aspercreme (trolamine salicylate), a topical medication that’s like aspirin

• Lidocaine patches, a local numbing medication

• Icy Hot (menthol and methyl salicylate)

Before you try or spend money on any new medications, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the best treatment option(s) for your situation.

How to save on Voltaren gel

Voltaren is widely available as an OTC product. But if you decide to fill it as a prescription at the pharmacy, there are many ways to save. GoodRx can help you save over 85% off the average retail price of the generic version. Generic Voltaren’s price at certain pharmacies is as low as $16.80 with a free GoodRx discount.

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Written by:

Nidhi Gandhi-Patel, PharmD, BS

Nidhi Gandhi-Patel, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist in Illinois. She has worked in the pharmacy profession for more than 6 years and currently is the interim Co-Director of the AACP Transformation Center at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP).

Edited by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

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