Lidocaine vs Diclofenac Topical Gel and 1%: side effects in FDA adverse event reports
At a glance
| Lidocaine | Diclofenac Topical Gel and 1% | |
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Amide Local Anesthetic, Antiarrhythmic | – |
| Brand names | – | Diclofenac Sodium |
| FAERS reports | 59,879 | 35,579 |
| Serious | 74% | 78% |
| Death outcome | 6,089 | 6,894 |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
Signals both drugs share
| Reaction | Lidocaine | Diclofenac Topical Gel and 1% | Label screen (A / B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspiratory capacity decreased | 99 · PRR 197.0 | 62 · PRR 171.4 | Not in label — unassessed / No label text to screen |
Labeled signals distinctive to Lidocaine
- Local anaesthetic systemic toxicity — n=743, PRR 913.6 Labeled (related wording)
- Infusion site urticaria — n=65, PRR 38.3 Labeled (related wording)
Labeled signals distinctive to Diclofenac Topical Gel and 1%
- None stood out among the strongest labeled signals.
Common questions
Which has more reported side effects, Lidocaine or Diclofenac Topical Gel and 1%?
Lidocaine has 59,879 FAERS reports and Diclofenac Topical Gel and 1% 35,579. More reports does not mean more dangerous: volume follows how widely and how long a drug has been used, prescription vs over-the-counter status, and publicity. The seriousness share (74% vs 78%) is a better like-for-like signal of the kind of problems reported.
Which side effects do Lidocaine and Diclofenac Topical Gel and 1% share?
Both drugs carry disproportionality signals for inspiratory capacity decreased. Shared signals often reflect a shared drug class or the condition both are used for.
Is Lidocaine or Diclofenac Topical Gel and 1% safer?
FAERS cannot answer that: it has no denominator and no comparator. Use this page to see which risks are already on each label and which signals are unlabeled, then check the prescribing information and your clinician for your situation.
Sources: openFDA FAERS pair statistics (OpenPV build 2026-09-14), FDA labels via openFDA, openFDA count queries for seriousness and deaths. Pair chosen because it is a commonly searched comparison. Generated 2026-10-08.