Voltaren is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which can be taken orally or topically on the skin as well as by injection. Its efficacy as a skin gel bypasses the gastrointestinal stress caused by many NSAIDs (by me! 😯)
While it was patented in 1965, it didn't become available for public use for over 20 years. In topical forms it has been found to be useful for osteoarthritis but not other types of long-term musculoskeletal pain. Voltaren (diclofenac) inhibits COX-1 and COX-2 pain transmission with relative equipotency.
Is Voltaren OTC?