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Ontario coverage, price, criteria word for word, Health Canada status and shortages for one product

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DICLOFENAC POTASSIUM

All products: not a benefit

Other products in the same Health Canada class (M01A, M01AB) — coverage varies; not interchangeable

  • Diclofenac (Voltaren): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Diclofenac + misoprostol (Arthrotec 50): general benefit
  • Indomethacin (Indocid): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Sulindac (Clinoril): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Ketorolac tromethamine (Toradol): not a benefit
  • Flurbiprofen (Ansaid): general benefit, Not a benefit

12 more in the class list below

Voltaren Rapide · DIN 00881635 · 50mg · tablet

Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefitMarketed · checked 2026-09-19
StatusOff-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit
Write on scriptnot a benefit; no Exceptional Access criteria on record; see alternatives
Patient paysPatient pays: program not supplied; amount cannot be determined.
Private plan unknown: ask. If yes, check its coverage and payer coordination; if no, see the public routes below.
Brand vs generic price
Lowest DBP recovery rule under medically necessary no-substitution claims: 6.2 Medically Necessary "No Substitution" Claims The Side Effect Reporting Form will not have to be renewed. However, the pharmacy must maintain a copy of the prescription that contains a direction that there be no substitution and the required Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form (completed and signed by the prescriber). The prescriber must write “No Substitution” or “No Sub” on renewal or subsequent new written prescriptions, and indicate “No Substitution” on subsequent new oral prescriptions. The dispenser will be reimbursed the DBP plus a mark-up and the lesser of the posted usual and customary fee or the ODB dispensing fee minus the applicable ODB co-payment amount. Where a completed Side Effect Reporting Form is not available at the pharmacy during an inspection, the difference between the cost of the higher-cost product and the lowest DBP listed for the interchangeable category will be recovered. (ontario.ca, Revision #17; 2026-08-03 ↗) 6.2 Medically Necessary "No Substitution" Claims The Ministry will provide reimbursement of a higher-cost interchangeable product in medically necessary circumstances where a patient has experienced a significant adverse reaction with two (2) lower-cost interchangeable drug products, where available. When a prescriber identifies a patient for which it is medically necessary that a higher cost interchangeable product be provided, the prescriber must: • Complete, sign and forward to the pharmacist a copy of the Health Canada side effect reporting form for each lower-cost interchangeable drug product trialed (Side Effect Reporting Form[s]); and • Write “No Substitution” or “No Sub” on a written prescription or indicate “No Substitution” to the pharmacist in the case of a verbal prescription. The prescriber should keep a copy of the completed form in the patient’s record for future use and reference. In the case of a written prescription, when the pharmacist or dispensing physician receives a prescription with the written notation “No Substitution” or “No Sub”, reimbursement will be provided for the higher-cost interchangeable product only if the prescription is accompanied by a completed Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form for each of the lower-cost interchangeable drug products trialed. This form must be completely filled out noting the details of the adverse reaction and signed by the prescriber. In the case of a verbal prescription, the prescriber must satisfy the operator of the pharmacy or dispensing physician that a completed Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form for each of the lower-cost interchangeable drug products trialed has been completed and signed by the prescriber. A written record of this verbal prescription and the completed Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form must be received by the pharmacy prior to claim submission. Upon receipt, the pharmacist must: • Fax, submit online or mail the completed and signed form to Health Canada’s Canada Vigilance Program; and • Retain his or her copy of the completed and signed Side Effect Reporting Form. (ontario.ca, Revision #17; 2026-08-03 ↗)
1 brand, same coverage
Voltaren Rapide · DIN 00881635 Manufacturer: Novartis Pharma Canada Inc.; listing date 2008-01-15 Health Canada: Marketed since 1998-08-27 · brand VOLTAREN RAPIDE · ATC M01AB05 DICLOFENAC · form Tablet · route Oral · ingredients DICLOFENAC POTASSIUM 50 MG · company Novartis pharmaceuticals canada inc · schedule Prescription
Check this DIN again · Health Canada product record

Voltaren Rapide: Formulary list price not recorded/unit (unit not stated in source; not the patient's cost)

Formulary data: Ontario extract of Aug 26, 2026 · Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=13805 · Verify on the e-Formulary ↗ (DIN 00881635)

Source record
DIN 00881635: Voltaren Rapide Raw flags: notABenefit=Y, sec3=Y, sec3b=Y Item: 280804099; group id 378; item number 0900; lccId None; manufacturer id NOV Source form: Tab; strength: 50mg Recorded listing: Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit Source prices (unrounded): not recorded; ministry not recorded Source: ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26 DIN=00881635 Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=13805 Therapeutic Notes (formulary) NSAIDs have a high rate of serious adverse effects in the elderly. When prescribing NSAIDs, the minimal effective dose for the shortest period of time should be used. In nonspecific pain and/or osteoarthritis, in the absence of joint inflammation (swelling), acetaminophen is a better first choice for analgesia. The most effective treatment to prevent NSAID-gastritis is misoprostol; although H-2 antagonists, such as ranitidine or cimetidine, are commonly used, they are not as effective. NSAIDs can significantly aggravate hypertension and congestive heart failure; ASA in doses below 1 gram per day is a better choice than other NSAID options if anti-inflammatory effects are required in patients with these conditions. Low dose ASA has additional benefits for anti-platelet indications that are not provided by other NSAIDs, and should be given in preference or in addition to other NSAIDs for patients with vascular indications.
Interchangeable products
Apo-Diclo Rapide · DIN 02243433 · not recorded Sandoz Diclofenac Rapide · DIN 02261774 · not recorded Teva-Diclofenac-K · DIN 02239355 · not recorded
Shortage status: not checked (no credentials)
Other drugs in the same formulary class (28:08:04 Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents) and how they are covered

Matched class: 28:08:04 Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents

Drug-class inventory only. Lists recorded Ontario formulary products, not every Canadian medication; does not recommend treatment. Covered without a code on the Ontario formulary: DICLOFENAC SODIUM & MISOPROSTOL Some products covered without a code (check the product listing): DICLOFENAC SODIUM, FLURBIPROFEN, IBUPROFEN, INDOMETHACIN, KETOPROFEN, MEFENAMIC ACID, MELOXICAM, NAPROXEN, PIROXICAM, SULINDAC, TIAPROFENIC ACID 28:08:04 Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents

DICLOFENAC SODIUM

· 19 products · Listed, not a benefit (3), General benefit (11), Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (5) · strengths: 25mg, 50mg, 75mg, 100mg, 1.5% W/W · Ent Tab, LA Tab, Sup, Top Sol

DICLOFENAC SODIUM & MISOPROSTOL

· 6 products · General benefit · strengths: 50mg & 200mcg, 75mg & 200mcg · Tab

INDOMETHACIN

· 10 products · Listed, not a benefit (4), General benefit (6) · strengths: 25mg, 50mg, 100mg · Cap, Sup

SULINDAC

· 4 products · Listed, not a benefit (2), General benefit (2) · strengths: 150mg, 200mg · Tab

KETOROLAC TROMETHAMINE

· 5 products · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit · strengths: 10mg · Tab

FLURBIPROFEN

· 4 products · Listed, not a benefit (2), General benefit (2) · strengths: 50mg, 100mg · Tab

IBUPROFEN

· 11 products · Listed, not a benefit (3), General benefit (8) · strengths: 200mg, 300mg, 400mg, 600mg · Tab

KETOPROFEN

· 9 products · General benefit (4), Listed, not a benefit (5) · strengths: 50mg, 100mg, 200mg · Cap, Ent Tab, LA Tab

MEFENAMIC ACID

· 2 products · Listed, not a benefit (1), General benefit (1) · strengths: 250mg · Cap

MELOXICAM

· 14 products · Listed, not a benefit (2), General benefit (12) · strengths: 7.5mg, 15mg · Tab

NAPROXEN

· 21 products · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (9), General benefit (8), Listed, not a benefit (4) · strengths: 250mg, 375mg, 500mg, 25mg/mL, 125mg · Ent Tab, O/L, Tab

PIROXICAM

· 6 products · Listed, not a benefit (2), General benefit (4) · strengths: 10mg, 20mg · Cap Source: formulary-ed43-front-matter.txt Part V; ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26; class 28:08:04 and 6 more
Full class listing Related classes: 28:08:08 Opiate Agonists, 28:08:12 Opiate Partial Agonists, 28:08:92 Miscellaneous Analgesics and Antipyretics, 28:16:04 Antidepressants, 28:16:08 Tranquilizers, 28:16:12 Other Psychotropics, 28:36:08 Anticholinergic Agents, 28:36:20 Dopamine Receptor Agonists Same formulary class, not same indication: class membership alone does not establish equivalent uses.
What the Health Canada label says it is for
1. Indications Pr VOLTAREN RAPIDE® (diclofenac potassium) is indicated for: • the short-term (up to one week) treatment of acute, mild to moderately severe pain that may be accompanied by inflammation, in conditions such as: musculoskeletal and/or soft tissue trauma including sprains, post-operative pain following dental extraction, episiotomy, or dysmenorrhea. Throughout this document, the term Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) refers to both non-selective NSAIDs and selective COX-2 inhibitor NSAIDs, unless otherwise indicated. Diclofenac, particularly at higher doses, is associated with an increased risk of serious cardiovascular related adverse events that is comparable to COX-2 inhibitors. For patients with pre-existing risk factors for cardiovascular disease (including ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and/or congestive heart failure NYHA II-IV), other management strategies that do not include NSAIDs, particularly COX-2 inhibitors and diclofenac, should be considered first (see 2 Contraindications and 7 Warnings and Precautions). For patients … https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00084524.PDF PM date: 2026-04-29 Source product: VOLTAREN RAPIDE; DIN 00881635; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph posted by Health Canada; excerpt for lookup only.

Other review policies

For Voltaren Rapide: no applicable EAP criteria are held and no ODB benefit is established. These policies do not establish coverage.

For rare, immediately life-, limb- or organ-threatening circumstances, the Compassionate Review Policy may consider an unfunded drug or indication, subject to its criteria and without bypassing the drug review process. Compassionate Review Policy

Compassionate Review Policy: source quote
Where there are rare clinical circumstances in immediately life, limb, or organ-threatening conditions, the Executive Officer will also consider requests for drugs or indications in situations where there has not been a decision by the Executive Officer to provide funding of the drug or indication as part of the Ontario Drug Benefit program (and the EAP), and the drug or indication requested would not circumvent the established review process for new drugs or indications as part of the drug submission process for listing within the Ontario Drug Benefit program. Requests must meet the criteria for the Compassionate Review Policy.

Ontario source; updated September 15, 2026

For cancer drugs, Case-by-Case Review considers rare, immediately life-threatening circumstances when no satisfactory funded treatment exists; its criteria and application process apply. Case-by-Case Review (cancer drugs)

Case-by-Case Review (cancer drugs): source quote
Note: Requests for cancer drugs are considered under the Case-by-Case Review Program (CBCRP) which is administered by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) on behalf of the Ministry of Health. The CBCRP considers funding requests for drugs (both oral therapies and injectable drugs) for the treatment of cancer in patients who have a rare clinical circumstance that is immediately life-threatening (death is likely within a matter of months) and who require treatment with an unfunded drug, because there is no other satisfactory and funded treatment. Please refer to the Ontario Health website for information on the application process, FAQs, eligibility criteria and program policies.

Ontario source; updated September 15, 2026