Voveran SR 100 Tablet: Uses, Side Effects & FAQs

Voveran SR 100 is a long-acting tablet for pain, swelling and stiffness in joints and muscles. It is a prescription-only medicine in India. Its only active ingredient is diclofenac sodium, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that lowers the body chemicals behind pain and swelling. Each tablet releases 100 mg of diclofenac slowly through the day, so it is usually taken once a day.

Voveran SR 100 is a single-ingredient tablet of diclofenac sodium, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. "SR" stands for sustained release, which means the tablet is built to let the medicine out slowly instead of all at once. The "100" is the strength: 100 mg of diclofenac sodium in each tablet.

Check the exact strength printed on your pack before you take it. Voveran SR also comes as a 75 mg tablet, which is a lower daily dose. Other forms of this medicine, such as plain tablets, gels and injections, carry different strengths and are used differently.

When a joint or muscle is injured or inflamed, your body makes chemicals called prostaglandins. These make pain nerves fire more easily and keep the swelling going. Diclofenac switches off the enzyme your body uses to make those chemicals. With less of them around, pain nerves fire less and the swelling eases.

Doctors usually prescribe Voveran SR 100 for:

• Osteoarthritis, where the smooth cartilage cushioning a joint wears down
• Rheumatoid arthritis, where the lining of the joints stays swollen
• Ankylosing spondylitis, a long-term arthritis that mainly stiffens the spine
• Injury and surgery pain, including dental and orthopaedic operations, along with the swelling they cause
• Period pain and other painful inflammatory conditions in women

It does not repair a damaged joint or stop arthritis from getting worse. It eases pain and swelling while you take it, alongside the exercise and other treatment your doctor advises.

Never swap between diclofenac products yourself. They release the medicine at different speeds and are not interchangeable, so a plain tablet is not a stand-in for this slow-release one unless your doctor agrees.

1. Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not crush, split or chew it, because it is designed to release slowly.
2. Take it before meals, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
3. If it upsets your stomach, ask your doctor about taking it after food instead.
4. Take it at the same time each day. If your pain is worst at night or on waking, your doctor may suggest the evening.
5. Keep to the course your doctor set, and do not continue for weeks on your own.

Your doctor decides the dose and how long you need it. Adults usually take one 100 mg tablet once a day. Do not take a second tablet unless your doctor tells you to.

For milder pain, or if you stay on it long term, your doctor often aims for the lowest daily dose that still works. If you have heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure or several risk factors such as diabetes, high cholesterol or smoking, your doctor will not take you above one 100 mg tablet a day, and only after weighing the risks.

Never increase the dose on your own. The lowest dose that controls your pain is the safest one, because higher doses raise the risk of stomach bleeding, kidney strain and heart problems.

Voveran SR 100 is not for children or teenagers under 18. This strength is too high for them, and a paediatrician will decide what they can safely take.

If someone takes too many tablets, get medical help straight away even if they seem fine at first. Go to the nearest emergency department, or call 108 for an ambulance and 112 for emergency help. Take the strip or box with you.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If your next dose is close, skip the one you missed and carry on as usual. Never take two tablets to catch up.

The tablet releases diclofenac slowly, and blood levels usually peak about four hours after a dose, so relief builds through the day rather than all at once. If your pain is no better after a week, or gets worse, see your doctor.

Keep the tablets in their original pack at room temperature, away from light and moisture, and out of children's reach. Throw away any tablets past the expiry date.

Most people take Voveran SR 100 without any trouble. When side effects happen, they are usually mild and settle as your body gets used to the medicine.

Common and mild:

• Feeling sick, or being sick
• Stomach pain, heartburn or indigestion
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Wind or bloating
• Headache
• Dizziness or a spinning feeling
• A mild rash

Rare but serious (stop the medicine and see a doctor right away):

• Black, tarry stools, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• Severe stomach pain that does not settle
• Yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, or unusual tiredness
• Swelling of the face, lips or throat, or trouble breathing
• Chest pain, breathlessness, or weakness on one side of the body

Both the stomach upset and the bleeding risk come from the way diclofenac works. They are more likely with higher doses, longer use and in older people.

Do not take Voveran SR 100 at all if any of these apply to you:

• You have had an allergic reaction to diclofenac or another NSAID
• Aspirin or another NSAID has triggered asthma, hives or swelling
• You have an active stomach or bowel ulcer, bleeding or perforation
• You have severe heart failure, liver failure or kidney failure
• You have heart disease or uncontrolled high blood pressure, and need more than one 100 mg tablet a day for over 4 weeks
• You are in the last three months of pregnancy
• You are having, or have just had, heart bypass surgery

Tell your doctor before taking Voveran SR 100 if you have:

• Past stomach ulcers or bleeding (the risk of bleeding again is much higher)
• Heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol (NSAIDs raise the risk of heart attack and stroke)
• Kidney or liver disease (your dose may need to change, or this medicine may not suit you)
• Asthma (some people with asthma react badly to NSAIDs)
• Diabetes, or you take blood pressure medicines (diclofenac can push blood pressure up and strain the kidneys)
• Plans to conceive (it can delay ovulation)
• Pregnancy (not after 20 weeks without specialist advice, and never in the last three months)
• Breastfeeding (it passes into breast milk, so it is usually not used while you are nursing)

Age matters too. If you are over 65, serious side effects are more likely, so tell your doctor how old you are and what other health problems you have.

Always tell your doctor about every medicine, supplement or home remedy you are using. Alcohol adds to the risk of stomach irritation and bleeding, so keep it to a minimum while you are on this medicine.

A painkiller only controls symptoms. Get medical help quickly if you have:

• Black, tarry stools, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• Severe stomach pain that does not settle
• Chest pain, breathlessness, or weakness in an arm, leg or face
• Yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, or swelling of the face or throat
• Pain that is no better after a week, or a joint that is hot, red and swollen
• Much less urine than usual, or suddenly swollen ankles

Voveran SR 100 is a once-daily diclofenac tablet for arthritis, injury and period pain. It works best at the lowest dose that controls your symptoms, swallowed whole and taken at the same time each day. Stomach upset is the most common side effect and usually settles, but black stools or severe stomach pain need medical help at once.