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Diclofenac: The Double-Edged Drug

  • Writer: Aanal Thaker
    Aanal Thaker
  • 18 minutes ago
  • 1 min read


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From Lab to Pharmacy: The First of Its Kind

Diclofenac was the first NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) approved as a phenylacetic acid derivative.

It quickly became popular for its analgesic (pain relief) and antipyretic (fever reduction) properties.



Why Doctors Reach for Diclofenac

  • Strong pain relief

  • Effective fever control

  • Safer than aspirin in terms of stomach irritation (but not entirely risk-free)



The Not-So-Good Side: Hidden Risks


While it works wonders for pain, diclofenac isn’t harmless:


  • Most common side effect: stomach issues like acidity, ulcers, or irritation.

  • Risks increase with long-term or unsupervised use.


Diclofenac: What No One Tells You


Beyond human health, diclofenac has a darker story…


  • Livestock treated with diclofenac left behind toxic carcasses.

  • Vultures feeding on them died in massive numbers.

  • This caused a sharp decline in vulture populations across Asia.


    That’s why diclofenac is sometimes called an “environmental villain.”


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