I was at the drugstore this morning and while waiting for my turn noticed on the shelf with the usual nostroms for aches and pains that Voltaren was sitting beside the Aspercreme and BenGay. This is in Wisconsin. My Pharmacist says it has only recently become available for him to sell over the counter. Very good news for we Americans (Canadians and Europeans have had it available otc for some years now). Works on people as well as horses with sore muscles or joints.
I was just reading this yesterday- apparently voltaren gel was approved OTC in the US in March.
It’s a heck of a lot cheaper than Surpass, so I’ll probably go through a tube a week this winter for my elder statesman’s hocks, if the carrier is as effective at penetrating the hair coat and the skin barrier.
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I’ve been using OTC Voltaren (bought overseas) for years. Excited to see it available here now. IMHO, the carrier isn’t as good. We clip the area, or try to really work it down to the skin.
We usually mix Surpass with some DMSO to make sure it penetrates the skin.
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I am curious how the OTC differs from prescription strength.
When my orthopod prescribed diclofenac sodium for my knees, I told him same stuff was used on horses.
And when pill form wasn’t enough I asked him to prescribe the topical.
IIRC, the RX gel was 1%.
Same for OTC?
Costco has it (theoretically; it seems to always be “out of stock” on the website) and it is 1%.
YESSSS I’d been ordering it from Canada until the government put a stop to it, then I had friends sneak it to me when they went on vacation, then I was stealing some from my father in law (who was given it but never used it).
We use it on ourselves and the horses, and I’m so happy I can get it in a non shady way!
Yeah, it’s been around for a few months. Costco has a three pack!! 
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Does it show up on drug tests?
Yes, it would. A small amount is absorbed systemically.
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It’s such great stuff and long overdue to get OTC here since it’s been OTC in Canada for AGES
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Happily since the tube I bought in London has just run out.
As mentioned, it’s an NSAID and yes you should expect that it would show in a drug test and also consult your vet before using it if you are also using oral NSAIDs, since they would stack.
