Patient/Family Teaching

• Instruct patient on correct application procedure for patch. Apply patch to most painful area. Change patch every 12 hr. Remove patch if irritation occurs. Fold used patches so adhesive sticks to itself and discard where children and pets cannot get them. Encourage patient to read the NSAID Medication Guide that accompanies the prescription

» Instruct patients if patch begins to peel off to tape the edges. Do not wear patch during bathing or showering. Bathing should take place between scheduled patch removal and application

» Caution patient to avoid concurrent use of alcohol, aspirin, acetaminophen, other NSAIDs, or other OTC medications without consulting health care professional

» May cause serious side effects: CV (MI or stroke), GI (ulcers, bleeding), skin (exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens—Johnson Syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis) and hypersensitivity (anaphylaxis). May occur without warning symptoms. Advise patient to stop medication and notify health care professional immediately if symptoms of CV side effects (chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, slurring of speech), GI side effects (epigastric pain, dyspepsia, melana, hematemesis), skin side effects (skin rash, blisters, fever, itching) or hypersensitivity reactions (difficulty breathing or swelling of face or throat) occur. Inform patient that risk for heart attack or stroke that can lead to death increases with longer use of NSAID medications and in people who have heart disease and that risk of ulcer increases with concurrent use of corticosteroids and anticoagulants, longer use, smoking, drinking alcohol, older age, and having poor health

» Instruct patient to notify health care professional of medication regimen before treatment or surgery

» Advise patient to notify health care professional promptly if unexplained weight gain, swelling of arms and legs or hands and feet, nausea, fatigue, lethargy, pruritis, yellowing of skin or eyes, itching, stomach pain, vomiting blood, bloody or tarry stools, or flu-like symptoms, occur

» Caution female patient to avoid use of diclofenac in last trimester of pregnancy and to notify health care professional if breastfeeding

• Advise patient to minimize use of concurrent NSAIDs during transdermal therapy

diclofenac (topical patch) is a sample topic found in Davis's Drug Guide. All other sections of this record are viewable by clicking on the index in the left column, or by clicking on "Display all Sections" in the "Content Manager".

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