Caflam Tablets 50mg (Diclofenac Potassium)

Nouveaux Pharma LimitedDRAP reg. 021528

We dispense this on prescription

We accept a prescription from any registered doctor in Pakistan.

Pack

20 tabletsRs 408about Rs 20 a tabletIn stock

Same day or next day in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi for orders confirmed before 6pm. Tracked courier, 2 to 4 working days everywhere else. Delivery Rs 250 in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Rs 300 everywhere else, cash on delivery. Delivery details

Prices in PKR, checked 15 October 2026.

What Caflam is

An anti-inflammatory painkiller tablet containing diclofenac potassium 50 mg. DRAP records Nouveaux Pharma Limited as the registration holder.

Sugar-coated tablet.
Registered with DRAP under number 021528. DRAP’s registry gives a registration date of 3 February 2023.
DRAP approved a change in the name of the registration holder on 8 April 2026, from Novartis Pharma (Pakistan) Limited to Nouveaux Pharma Limited, at the same Karachi address. Nouveaux says International Investments II Limited acquired Novartis’s operations in Pakistan on 1 December 2025, and the company was renamed in 2026.
DRAP registers packs of 2, 20, 28, 50 and 100 tablets, all de-controlled, with no notified price. It registers no 10-tablet pack. We sell the 20-tablet pack, at the price printed on its carton.
We dispense it on prescription: we ask for a photo of your prescription with your order, checked by our pharmacist.

What is in each tablet

One active ingredient, from the label claim in DRAP’s registry.

Caflam active ingredient per tablet
Active ingredient	Per tablet
Diclofenac potassium	50 mg

DRAP’s label claim reads: “Each sugar coated tablet contains: Diclofenac Potassium..........50mg”.

What it is used for

Diclofenac potassium is an anti-inflammatory painkiller (NSAID). UK product information for Voltarol Rapid 50 mg (diclofenac potassium) lists pain and inflammation in these conditions.

Uses of diclofenac potassium 50 mg tablets, from UK product information
Kind of condition	Listed uses
Joints	Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, acute gout, and pyrophosphate arthropathy and related disorders.
Back	Low back pain.
Muscles, tendons and injuries	Frozen shoulder, tendinitis, tenosynovitis, bursitis, sprains, strains and dislocations, and pain from fractures.
Headache	Migraine attacks.
Surgery	Pain and inflammation after orthopaedic, dental and other minor surgery.

Source: UK product information (Voltarol Rapid 50 mg), section 4.1. The same product information recommends these 50 mg tablets only for short-term treatment.

Heart and circulation

Regulators in Europe, the UK and the US link diclofenac to a raised risk of heart attack and stroke.

Diclofenac and cardiovascular risk, by source
Source	What it says
European Medicines Agency, 28 June 2013	The effects of diclofenac taken by mouth or injection on the heart and circulation are “similar to those of selective COX-2 inhibitors”, another group of painkillers, particularly at high dose and in long-term treatment.
European Medicines Agency, referral page	The European Commission “took a final legally binding decision throughout the EU on 25 September 2013.”
European Medicines Agency and UK MHRA, June 2013	Not to be used by people with established heart failure (NYHA class II to IV: heart failure that limits everyday activity), ischaemic heart disease (narrowed heart arteries, such as angina or a past heart attack), peripheral arterial disease (narrowed arteries in the legs) or cerebrovascular disease (a past stroke or mini-stroke).
European Medicines Agency and UK MHRA, June 2013	People with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or who smoke, should only be treated after careful consideration. UK product information for Voltarol Rapid 50 mg adds mild heart failure (NYHA class I) to this group.
US FDA, 9 July 2015	Strengthened the warning that non-aspirin anti-inflammatory medicines, diclofenac among them, increase the chance of a heart attack or stroke.

Get medical help at once for chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness or slurred speech, which can come without warning (UK product information (Voltarol Rapid 50 mg)).

Stomach and gut

UK product information (Voltarol Rapid 50 mg): bleeding, ulceration or perforation of the stomach or gut, which can be fatal, has been reported with all anti-inflammatory medicines including diclofenac, at any time during treatment, with or without warning symptoms.

Warning: Not for anyone with an active stomach or gut ulcer, bleeding or perforation, or with past bleeding or perforation from an anti-inflammatory medicine (UK product information).
Warning: The risk rises with higher doses, a history of ulcer, and older age; older people face more serious consequences (UK product information).
Warning: Medicines that add to the risk: steroids, blood thinners such as warfarin, SSRI antidepressants and antiplatelets such as aspirin (UK product information).
Warning: If you have had stomach or gut problems with medicines like this before, particularly if you are older, report any unusual stomach symptoms, especially signs of bleeding such as vomiting blood or black stools (UK product information).
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease may get worse; close medical supervision is needed (UK product information).

Pakistan suspended the 75 mg and 100 mg strengths in 2022

In a Drug Safety Alert Update of 15 June 2022, DRAP’s Registration Board suspended all registrations of diclofenac potassium 75 mg and 100 mg. Caflam’s 50 mg strength was left in place: the notice limits the suspension to “Diclofenac Potassium 75MG and 100MG (Not 50mg or below)”.

DRAP’s reason: these formulations “are neither approved by any Reference Regulatory Authority nor any safety and efficacy data regarding these products is available with any registration holder.” The same notice says diclofenac potassium is approved by reference regulatory authorities in 12.5 mg, 25 mg and 50 mg tablet strengths.

The decision was taken at the Board’s 317th meeting, 16–17 May 2022, for one year, or until safety and efficacy were established through local clinical trials or a reference regulator approved the strengths, whichever came first. It excluded holders with interim relief from the Lahore High Court.

Who must not take it

UK product information (Voltarol Rapid 50 mg) says diclofenac must not be taken by people with:

Warning: An allergy to diclofenac or any ingredient.
Warning: Asthma, swelling, hives or a runny nose brought on by ibuprofen, aspirin or another anti-inflammatory medicine.
Warning: A stomach or gut ulcer, bleeding or perforation, now or repeatedly in the past, or past bleeding from an anti-inflammatory medicine.
Warning: Liver failure or kidney failure.
Warning: Heart failure (NYHA II to IV), ischaemic heart disease, peripheral arterial disease or cerebrovascular disease.
Warning: The last three months of pregnancy.

Caution and a doctor’s supervision, from the same source: mild to moderate liver or kidney problems, high blood pressure, older age, asthma, and liver porphyria. Lupus (SLE) or mixed connective tissue disease: the same source says there may be an increased risk of aseptic meningitis. Diclofenac can also hide the signs of an infection.

Other medicines

From UK product information (Voltarol Rapid 50 mg), section 4.5, unless another section is named. Tell the prescriber everything you take.

Medicines that interact with diclofenac, with source
Medicine	What happens	Source
Warfarin and other blood thinners, antiplatelets	What happens: Higher risk of bleeding; close monitoring needed.	Source: UK product information, 4.5
Other anti-inflammatories, including COX-2 inhibitors; steroids	What happens: Higher risk of stomach bleeding or ulcer. Avoid taking two or more anti-inflammatories.	Source: UK product information, 4.4 and 4.5
Aspirin	What happens: Named among antiplatelets that raise the risk of ulcer or bleeding.	Source: UK product information, 4.4
SSRI antidepressants	What happens: Higher risk of stomach bleeding.	Source: UK product information, 4.5
Blood pressure medicines (such as beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors) and water tablets (diuretics)	What happens: Their effect may be reduced; blood pressure should be checked periodically, and kidney function monitoring considered, particularly with water tablets and ACE inhibitors.	Source: UK product information, 4.5
Potassium-sparing water tablets, ciclosporin, tacrolimus, trimethoprim	What happens: Raised blood potassium.	Source: UK product information, 4.5
Ciclosporin, tacrolimus	What happens: Higher risk of kidney harm.	Source: UK product information, 4.5
Lithium	What happens: Levels may rise; monitoring recommended.	Source: UK product information, 4.5
Digoxin and other cardiac glycosides	What happens: Levels may rise; heart failure may get worse.	Source: UK product information, 4.5
Methotrexate	What happens: Levels may rise; serious toxicity has been reported.	Source: UK product information, 4.5
Diabetes medicines	What happens: Blood sugar may go up or down; monitoring recommended.	Source: UK product information, 4.5
Quinolone antibiotics	What happens: Fits (convulsions) may occur.	Source: UK product information, 4.5
Phenytoin	What happens: Levels may rise; monitoring recommended.	Source: UK product information, 4.5
Colestipol, colestyramine	What happens: They may delay or reduce how much diclofenac is absorbed. UK product information: take diclofenac “at least one hour before or 4 to 6 hours after” colestipol or colestyramine.	Source: UK product information, 4.5
Voriconazole and other strong CYP2C9 inhibitors	What happens: Diclofenac levels may rise significantly.	Source: UK product information, 4.5
Mifepristone	What happens: Anti-inflammatories should not be used for 8 to 12 days after it.	Source: UK product information, 4.5

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility

Never in the last three months of pregnancy. Earlier, only if a doctor says it is clearly necessary.

Diclofenac in pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility, by source
Source	What it says
US FDA, 15 October 2020	Anti-inflammatory medicines used around 20 weeks of pregnancy or later may cause rare but serious kidney problems in the unborn baby, leading to low levels of amniotic fluid. The FDA moved its advice to avoid them from 30 weeks to 20 weeks.
UK product information (Voltarol Rapid 50 mg)	Contraindicated in the last three months of pregnancy. In the first six months, not unless clearly necessary. From week 20 it may cause low amniotic fluid; early use is linked to a higher risk of miscarriage and of heart malformation (from under 1% to about 1.5%).
Breastfeeding, UK product information (Voltarol Rapid 50 mg)	Diclofenac passes into breast milk in small amounts, so it should not be taken while breastfeeding.
Fertility, UK product information (Voltarol Rapid 50 mg)	It may impair female fertility and is not recommended for women trying to conceive.

Side effects

From UK product information (Voltarol Rapid 50 mg), which lists no side effect as “very common”. Common means between 1 in 100 and 1 in 10 people.

Side effects of diclofenac potassium 50 mg, from UK product information
How often	Side effects
Common	Headache, dizziness, vertigo; nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, indigestion, stomach pain, wind, loss of appetite; raised liver enzymes; rash.
Uncommon*	Heart attack, heart failure, palpitations, chest pain.
Rare	Allergic reactions including anaphylaxis; sleepiness, tiredness; asthma; stomach inflammation, stomach or gut bleeding or ulcer (sometimes fatal, particularly in older people), vomiting blood, black stools; hepatitis, jaundice; hives; swelling (oedema).
Very rare	Including blood disorders; facial swelling; stroke; fits; depression, insomnia, nightmares; vision and hearing problems; high or low blood pressure; colitis, pancreatitis; severe liver damage; severe skin reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis; hair loss, sensitivity to sunlight; acute kidney failure and other kidney damage.
Not known	Confusion, hallucinations; optic neuritis; Kounis syndrome (an allergic reaction that can cause a heart attack); ischaemic colitis; fixed drug eruption.

* The UK product information says this frequency reflects data from long-term treatment at a high dose, 150 mg a day.

Stop it at the first sign of a skin rash, sores in the mouth or other signs of an allergy (UK product information).

Driving and children

What UK product information for Voltarol Rapid 50 mg says.

Driving: anyone who has visual disturbances, dizziness, vertigo, sleepiness, drowsiness or tiredness while taking it should not drive or use machines.
Alcohol: not mentioned in this product information.
Children: not recommended under 14 years of age. Its use for migraine in children has not been established.

Checking your pack is genuine

As of 14 October 2026, no DRAP alert, recall or rapid alert names Caflam or Nouveaux Pharma.

We buy only from authorised distributors, and check the batch and expiry on every item before it is packed.

Information as of 14 October 2026. DRAP publishes new alerts on dra.gov.pk.

Returns and replacements

Medicines and supplements can’t be returned once they have left our pharmacy.

Returned medicine can never go back into saleable stock. That is a safety rule, not a commercial one.
If an item arrives damaged or wrong, tell us on WhatsApp within 24 hours and we replace it. That is us fixing our mistake, not a return.
Anything that arrives expired or within a month of expiry we replace or refund, your choice, with no time limit.

Our returns policy

Frequently asked questions

What is the use of Caflam tablet?

Caflam contains diclofenac potassium, an anti-inflammatory painkiller. UK product information for Voltarol Rapid 50 mg (diclofenac potassium) lists pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and acute gout; low back pain; migraine attacks; sprains, strains, tendon and joint injuries and fractures; and after orthopaedic, dental and other minor surgery. It recommends the 50 mg tablets only for short-term treatment.

Is Caflam a painkiller?

Yes. Its active ingredient, diclofenac potassium, is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID): it treats pain and inflammation (UK product information for Voltarol Rapid 50 mg).

Does Caflam make you sleepy?

It can, rarely. UK product information for Voltarol Rapid 50 mg (diclofenac potassium) lists sleepiness and tiredness as rare side effects, and dizziness and vertigo as common ones. It says anyone who feels drowsy, dizzy or tired while taking it should not drive or use machines.

What are the side effects of Caflam?

The common ones in UK product information for Voltarol Rapid 50 mg (diclofenac potassium) are headache, dizziness, vertigo, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, indigestion, stomach pain, wind, loss of appetite, raised liver enzymes and rash. Rarer but serious ones include stomach bleeding or ulcers, heart attack and stroke, liver and kidney damage, and severe skin reactions.

What are the major side effects of diclofenac potassium?

The serious risks regulators highlight are heart attack and stroke (European Medicines Agency, UK MHRA, US FDA) and bleeding, ulcers or perforation of the stomach and gut, which can be fatal (UK product information for Voltarol Rapid 50 mg). The same product information also lists rare or very rare liver damage, acute kidney failure, severe allergic reactions and severe skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Is Caflam safe for heart patients?

Not for many of them. The European Medicines Agency and the UK MHRA say diclofenac must not be used by people with established heart failure (NYHA class II to IV), ischaemic heart disease, peripheral arterial disease or cerebrovascular disease, such as a past stroke. People with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or who smoke should only take it after careful consideration by a doctor.

Is Caflam safe for kidneys?

Not for people with kidney failure: UK product information for Voltarol Rapid 50 mg (diclofenac potassium) says it must not be used then. It calls for caution and kidney monitoring in mild to moderate kidney problems, in older people, and with water tablets or other medicines that affect the kidneys, and lists acute kidney failure as a very rare side effect.

Is Cataflam a muscle relaxer?

No. Cataflam is a diclofenac brand, and the US FDA lists it among non-aspirin anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs). It is used for muscle and joint pain because it reduces pain and inflammation, not because it relaxes muscles (UK product information for Voltarol Rapid 50 mg classes diclofenac potassium as an NSAID).

What is diclofenac potassium used for?

Pain and inflammation: UK product information for Voltarol Rapid 50 mg (diclofenac potassium) lists arthritis and gout, low back pain, migraine attacks, muscle, tendon and joint injuries, fractures, and pain after minor surgery, for short-term treatment.

Questions about Caflam Tablets 50mg (Diclofenac Potassium)?

Send your question on WhatsApp and a pharmacist will come back to you.

WhatsApp Order Call 0316 5534828

Reviewed by Dr. Muhammad Zahid Afridi, MBBS, RMP, MPH

Last reviewed 15 October 2026

DRAP registration

Caflam Tablet 50mg (021528), Nouveaux Pharma Limited. DRAP’s registry shows: Active, “Approved / Verified”.

DRAP publishes no definition of this verification flag, so we can’t tell you what it means. We searched DRAP’s website for “Caflam” and “diclofenac” on 16 October 2026 and found no alert naming Caflam; the diclofenac results include DRAP’s 2022 suspension of the 75 mg and 100 mg tablets (above). When we tested it, the search did not find a word that appears only inside an alert’s attached PDF, so an alert that names a product only in its PDF may not show up. DRAP describes its registered products index as a provisional list that “cannot be used as a reference for any purpose”. Checked against the registry on 14 October 2026.