Drug Interaction Report

Diclofenac Transdermal Patch and Secobarbital: Interaction Details

Name: Diclofenac Transdermal Patch and Secobarbital Interaction
Creator: Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS

A pharmacist-reviewed analysis of the Diclofenac Transdermal Patch and Secobarbital interaction: the documented clinical effects, severity rating, onset, mechanism, and management considerations, with cited references throughout.

AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · Source data updated Aug 8, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature

Secobarbital

No brand names on record

Diclofenac Transdermal Patch

Flector Flector® Patch Licart Licart ® Topical System Xiclo

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS

Updated Aug 8, 2026

Editorial policy · Data sources

Interaction severity

Moderate

Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.

Minor

Moderate

Major

Contraindicated

How we grade severity & evidence

Severity levels

Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.

Evidence grades

Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.

Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.

Of 268 documented Diclofenac Transdermal Patch interactions, 70 are rated moderate — including this one.

Onset

unspecified

Evidence

theoretical

Severity

Moderate

What happens

Decreased exposure of diclofenac

Interaction Deep Dive

Concomitant use of diclofenac (a CYP2C9 substrate) with a CYP2C9 inducer may result in decreased exposure of diclofenac and may cause decreased efficacy. Use caution when coadministering diclofenac with a CYP2C9 inducer. Dosage adjustment of diclofenac may be necessary¹. When a higher diclofenac dose is required while using a combination product containing diclofenac (eg, diclofenac/misoprostol), use separate products ².

Why it happens (mechanism)

Induction of CYP2C9-mediated metabolism of diclofenac

Common questions

Can I take Diclofenac Transdermal Patch and Secobarbital together?

Decreased exposure of diclofenac Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.

How serious is the Diclofenac Transdermal Patch and Secobarbital interaction?

It is rated moderate. Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.

How quickly could this interaction happen?

The documented onset is "unspecified". The timing of this interaction is not well characterized.

How strong is the evidence for this interaction?

The evidence is graded "theoretical". Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.

Questions for your pharmacist

Does my dose of Diclofenac Transdermal Patch or Secobarbital need adjusting while I take them together?
What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
Is there anything you'd monitor while I'm on both?

References (2)

Product Information: Voltaren(R)-XR oral extended-release tablets, diclofenac sodium oral extended-release tablets. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ, 2011. DailyMed
Product Information: ARTHROTEC(R) oral tablets, diclofenac sodium misoprostol oral tablets. G.D. Searle (per FDA), New York, NY, 2013. DailyMed

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HelloPharmacist doesn't license one of the big commercial interaction databases, so what you'll find here is not a complete list of every known drug interaction. Instead, each entry is researched, analyzed, and written up individually — documented from the published literature, reviewed by a pharmacist, and cited so you can check every source yourself.

If a combination isn't listed here, it means we haven't documented it yet — never that it's safe. For screening a full medication list, we recommend pairing this site with a comprehensive tool like the Drugs.com Interaction Checker and, most importantly, a review by your own pharmacist. For a deep, plain-English, fully sourced explanation of a specific documented interaction — that's exactly what we built this for.

This information is for education, not a substitute for professional medical advice. Do not start, stop, or change any medication without talking to your pharmacist or prescriber.