What are diflunisal tablets? 

DIFLUNISAL (Dolobid®) reduces the joint pain, stiffness, inflammation, or swelling caused by rheumatoid arthritis (rheumatism) and osteoarthritis. It also relieves mild to moderate pain. Generic diflunisal tablets are available. 

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine? 

They need to know  if you have any of these conditions: 

• anemia 
• asthma, especially aspirin sensitive asthma 
• bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia 
• cigarette smoker 
• coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery within  the past 2 weeks 
• dental disease 
• diabetes
• heart  or circulation  problems like angina, high blood pressure, heart failure, heart rhythm problems, history  of heart attack, history  of blood clots,  or leg edema (fluid retention) •  if you drink more than three (3) alcohol-containing beverages a day 
• kidney disease 
• liver disease 
• stomach or duodenal ulcers 
• history  of stroke 
• systemic lupus erythematosus 
• taking medicines  that make you bleed easily such as anticoagulants ('blood thinners') 
• ulcerative colitis 
• an unusual  or allergic reaction to diflunisal, aspirin, other salicylates, other NSAIDs, other medicines, foods, dyes  or preservatives 
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant 
• breast-feeding

How should I take this medicine? 

Take diflunisal tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Swallow the tablets whole  with a full glass of water. You may take diflunisal with milk or food if it upsets  your stomach. Take  your doses at regular intervals. Do not take  your medicine more often than directed. 

Contact  your pediatrician or health care professional regarding  the use  of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed. 

What if I miss a dose? 

If  you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost  time for  your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double  or extra doses. 

What drug(s) may interact with diflunisal? 

• Acetaminophen
• alcohol
• alendronate
• aspirin and aspirin-like medicines 
• cidofovir
• cyclosporine
• drospirenone; ethinyl estradiol (Yasmin®) 
• herbal products that contain feverfew, garlic, ginger, or ginkgo biloba 
• lithium
• medicines for high blood pressure 
• medicines that affect platelets 
• medicines that treat or prevent blood clots such as warfarin and other 'blood thinners' 
• methotrexate
• other antiinflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen or prednisone) 
• water pills (diuretics) 

Tell your prescribe or health care professional about all  other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescribe or health care professional if you are  a frequent user  of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect  the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any  of your medicines. 

What  should I watch for while taking diflunisal? 

Let your prescribe or health care professional know if your pain continues, do not take with other pain medicine without advice. If you get flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, muscle aches, and pains), call you’re prescribe  or health care professional; do not treat yourself. 

To reduce unpleasant effects  on your throat  and stomach, take diflunisal with a full glass of water and never just before lying down. If you notice black, tarry stools  or experience severe stomach pain and vomit blood or what looks like coffee grounds, notify your health care prescribe immediately. 

If  you are taking medicines that affect the clotting of your blood, such  as aspirin  or blood thinners such as Coumadin®, talk to your health care provider or prescribe before taking this medicine. 

Limit smoking  of cigarettes or drinking of alcohol. Smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol may increase irritation to your stomach and can make  it more susceptible to adverse reactions from diflunisal.

If you are going to have surgery  or dental work, tell your prescribe or health care professional that you are taking diflunisal. 

It is especially important not  to use diflunisal during  the last 3 months  of pregnancy unless specifically directed  to do so by your health care provider. Diflunisal may cause problems in the unborn child or complications during delivery. 

What side effects may I notice from taking diflunisal? 

Elderly patients are at increased risk  for developing side effects. 

Side effects that you should report to your prescribe or health care professional as soon as possible: 

• signs of bleeding from the stomach - black tarry stools, blood in the urine, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds 
• signs of an allergic reaction - difficulty breathing or wheezing, skin rash, redness, blistering or peeling skin, hives, or itching, swelling of eyelids, throat, lips 
• blurred vision 
• change in the amount of urine passed 
• difficulty swallowing, severe heartburn or burning, pain in throat 
• pain or difficulty passing urine 
• stomach pain or cramps 
• swelling of feet or ankles 
• yellowing of eyes or skin 
• Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to  your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or  are bothersome): 
• constipation
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• gas
• headache
• heartburn
• nausea, vomiting 

Where can I keep my medicine? 

Keep out of the reach of children  in a container  that small children cannot open.

  

 

• anemia 
• asthma, especially aspirin sensitive asthma 
• bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia 
• cigarette smoker 
• coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery within the past 2 weeks 
• dental disease 
• diabetes
• heart or circulation problems like angina, high blood pressure, heart failure, heart rhythm problems, history  of heart attack, history of blood clots,  or leg edema (fluid retention) • if you drink more than three (3) alcohol-containing beverages a day 
• kidney disease 
• liver disease 
• stomach or duodenal ulcers 
• history  of stroke 
• systemic lupus erythematosus 
• taking medicines that make you bleed easily such as anticoagulants ('blood thinners') 
• ulcerative colitis 
• an unusual or allergic reaction to diflunisal, aspirin, other salicylates, other NSAIDs, other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives 
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant 
• breast-feeding

How should I take this medicine? 

Take diflunisal tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water. You may take diflunisal with milk or food if it upsets your stomach. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. 

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed. 

What if I miss a dose? 

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses. 

What drug(s) may interact with diflunisal? 

• Acetaminophen
• alcohol
• alendronate 
• aspirin and aspirin-like medicines 
• cidofovir
• cyclosporine
• drospirenone; ethinyl estradiol (Yasmin®) 
• herbal products that contain feverfew, garlic, ginger, or ginkgo biloba 
• lithium
• medicines for high blood pressure 
• medicines that affect platelets 
• medicines that treat or prevent blood clots such as warfarin and other 'blood thinners' 
• methotrexate
• other antiinflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen or prednisone) 
• water pills (diuretics) 

Tell your prescribe or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescribe or health care professional if you are  a frequent user  of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines. 

What should I watch for while taking diflunisal? 

Let your prescribe or health care professional know if your pain continues, do not take with other pain medicine without advice. If you get flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, muscle aches, and pains), call you’re prescribe or health care professional; do not treat yourself. 

To reduce unpleasant effects on your throat and stomach, take diflunisal with a full glass of water and never just before lying down. If you notice black, tarry stools or experience severe stomach pain and vomit blood or what looks like coffee grounds, notify your health care prescribe immediately. 

If you are taking medicines that affect the clotting of your blood, such as aspirin or blood thinners such as Coumadin®, talk to your health care provider or prescribe before taking this medicine. 

Limit smoking of cigarettes or drinking of alcohol. Smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol may increase irritation to your stomach and can make it more susceptible to adverse reactions from diflunisal. 

If you are going to have surgery or dental work,  tell your prescribe or health care professional that you are taking diflunisal.

It is especially important  not to use diflunisal during the last 3 months of pregnancy unless specifically directed to do so by  your health care provider. Diflunisal may cause problems in the unborn child or complications during delivery. 

What side effects may I notice from taking diflunisal? 

Elderly patients are at increased risk for developing side effects. 

Side effects that you should report to your prescribe or health care professional as soon as possible: 

• signs of bleeding from the stomach - black tarry stools, blood in the urine, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds 
• signs of an allergic reaction - difficulty breathing or wheezing, skin rash, redness, blistering or peeling skin, hives, or itching, swelling of eyelids, throat, lips 
• blurred vision 
• change in the amount of urine passed 
• difficulty swallowing, severe heartburn or burning, pain in throat 
• pain or difficulty passing urine 
• stomach pain or cramps 
• swelling of feet or ankles 
• yellowing of eyes or skin 
• Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome): 
• constipation
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• gas
• headache
• heartburn
• nausea, vomiting 

Where can I keep my medicine? 

Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.
Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date. 

Notes: FCbinderMD

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EditText of this page (last edited April 4, 2010)