Phlogin 75mg/3ml Injection (Diclofenac Sodium)

Drug Class: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) | Form: Intramuscular (IM) Injection | Prescription Status: Prescription Only (Rx) — DRAP Registered

What is Phlogin 75mg/3ml Injection?

Phlogin 75mg/3ml Injection contains Diclofenac Sodium 75mg in a sterile 3ml solution formulated exclusively for deep intramuscular (IM) injection. It is a powerful, fast-acting NSAID designed for clinical situations where moderate to severe pain and inflammation (شدید درد اور سوجن) require immediate, reliable relief and oral administration is not possible, not fast enough, or clinically inappropriate.

Phlogin 75mg/3ml belongs to the same class of highly effective injectable Diclofenac preparations as Dicloran 75mg Injection — delivering an identical active ingredient, dose, concentration, and mechanism of action. By injecting Diclofenac directly into deep muscle tissue, Phlogin achieves rapid absorption into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system entirely and reaching therapeutic blood levels within 20 to 30 minutes. This speed and reliability of drug delivery makes it a first-choice injectable analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent in emergency departments, post-operative wards, and acute care settings across Pakistan.

Phlogin 75mg/3ml Injection is strictly for short-term clinical use only — a maximum of two consecutive days of intramuscular injections — with transition to oral Diclofenac as soon as the patient's condition allows. It must be prepared and administered exclusively by a qualified doctor or nurse in a clinical setting. It is never for self-administration, intravenous use, or prolonged repeated injection courses.

What is Phlogin 75mg/3ml Injection Used For?

Phlogin 75mg/3ml Injection is approved for the short-term treatment of the following acute painful and inflammatory conditions:

• Acute musculoskeletal pain — sudden severe back pain, neck pain, and muscle spasm with inflammation (کمر اور گردن کا شدید درد) — one of the most common indications in Pakistani clinical practice
• Arthritis flares — sudden severe exacerbations of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis requiring immediate injectable anti-inflammatory treatment (جوڑوں کی شدید سوزش)
• Post-operative pain — moderate to severe pain and swelling immediately following surgical procedures when the patient cannot take oral medicines
• Renal colic — intense, severe pain caused by kidney stones moving through the ureter (گردے کی پتھری کا درد) — injectable Diclofenac is a first-line treatment for renal colic in international and Pakistani guidelines
• Trauma and injury pain — pain and inflammation from significant injuries including fractures, dislocations, severe sprains, and major soft tissue trauma
• Acute gout attack — sudden intensely painful joint inflammation caused by uric acid crystal deposits (گاؤٹ کا شدید حملہ) — the injectable route provides the fastest onset of anti-inflammatory relief during a severe attack
• Biliary colic — severe right-sided upper abdominal pain from gallstone obstruction of the bile duct (پتے کی پتھری کا درد)
• Post-traumatic inflammation — significant localised swelling and pain following injuries where rapid anti-inflammatory action is needed
• Severe menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhoea) — when oral medicines have not provided adequate relief for severe period pain (شدید ماہواری درد)
• Peri-operative analgesia — as part of a multimodal pain management plan before or after surgery to reduce overall analgesic requirements

How Does Phlogin 75mg/3ml Injection Work?

Diclofenac Sodium works by blocking COX-1 and COX-2 (cyclo-oxygenase) enzymes — the enzymes responsible for synthesising prostaglandins throughout the body. Prostaglandins are the central chemical mediators that produce and amplify pain, swelling, inflammation, and fever at sites of tissue injury, disease, or obstruction.

By inhibiting COX enzymes and reducing prostaglandin production, Phlogin delivers three simultaneous and powerful therapeutic effects:

Analgesic action — prostaglandins sensitise pain receptors throughout the body, lowering their activation threshold and increasing pain intensity. By reducing prostaglandin levels, Diclofenac raises the pain threshold — making sensitised pain receptors significantly less responsive and dramatically reducing the intensity and quality of pain signals reaching the brain

Anti-inflammatory action — directly disrupts the prostaglandin-mediated inflammatory cascade at the site of injury, obstruction, or disease — reducing tissue swelling, heat, redness, and tenderness in affected joints, muscles, and organs

Antipyretic action — blocks prostaglandin production in the hypothalamus — the brain's central temperature control centre — helping restore normal body temperature in fever associated with inflammatory conditions

Why the intramuscular injectable route provides superior acute pain control:

When Phlogin 75mg is injected into deep muscle tissue, it is absorbed directly into the rich network of blood vessels surrounding the muscle fibres and enters systemic circulation rapidly — completely bypassing the digestive system:

• Speed of onset — therapeutic blood levels are reached within 20 to 30 minutes of injection — significantly faster than oral tablets which require 45 to 60 minutes for equivalent blood levels
• Complete and guaranteed dose delivery — the full 75mg dose is absorbed reliably regardless of the patient's gut function, nausea, vomiting, nil-by-mouth status, or post-operative digestive disruption
• Higher peak concentrations — achieves higher initial peak blood concentrations than equivalent oral doses — providing more powerful acute analgesia during the critical early hours of severe pain
• Reduced first-pass metabolism — the injectable route avoids partial breakdown of Diclofenac in the gut wall and liver before systemic circulation, resulting in more efficient delivery of the active drug to pain-generating tissues

Dosage and Administration

⚠️ Phlogin 75mg/3ml Injection must be administered only by a qualified doctor or nurse as a deep intramuscular injection into the upper outer quadrant of the buttock only. Never administer intravenously or subcutaneously. Never self-administer. Short-term use only — maximum 2 consecutive days.

Critical Administration Rules:

• Administer as a deep IM injection into the upper outer quadrant of the buttock only — this is the only safe injection site for Diclofenac IM injection; this specific location is the farthest point from the sciatic nerve, minimising the risk of nerve injury
• Never inject into the arm, thigh, or lower or inner buttock — incorrect placement risks sciatic nerve damage, which can be permanent
• Never administer intravenously (IV) — this IM formulation is not prepared or approved for IV use; IV administration of IM Diclofenac solution can cause serious vascular complications including thromboembolism
• Never administer subcutaneously (under the skin) — the oily or aqueous solution will not absorb correctly and will cause significant local tissue damage
• If two doses are required in 24 hours, inject into alternating sides — left and right buttock alternately — never into the same site twice consecutively
• Inject slowly and steadily — do not rush the injection
• Transition to oral Diclofenac as soon as the patient can tolerate oral medicine — injectable use must not exceed 2 days

Active Ingredient

Who Should NOT Receive Phlogin 75mg/3ml Injection?

Do not administer this injection if the patient:

• Is allergic to Diclofenac Sodium, Aspirin, or any other NSAID
• Has previously experienced asthma, hives, angioedema, or severe allergic reaction after taking Aspirin or any NSAID
• Has or has previously had a stomach or intestinal ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding, or bowel perforation
• Has severe heart failure, established ischaemic heart disease (angina or previous heart attack), peripheral arterial disease, or cerebrovascular disease (previous stroke or TIA)
• Has severe kidney failure or severe liver failure
• Is in the last 3 months (third trimester) of pregnancy
• Is a child or adolescent under 18 years of age
• Has a confirmed bleeding disorder or is receiving anticoagulant therapy — IM injections carry a significant haematoma risk in patients with impaired clotting
• Has porphyria — NSAIDs can trigger an acute porphyric episode
• Has a local infection, skin disease, or tissue damage at the intended injection site

Always inform the treating doctor before administration if the patient has:

• History of stomach or intestinal ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, or inflammatory bowel disease
• High blood pressure (ہائی بلڈ پریشر) or any cardiovascular risk factors
• Any degree of kidney or liver disease
• Asthma — particularly aspirin-sensitive asthma
• Diabetes — NSAIDs impair kidney function
• Are aged 65 or over — higher risk of all serious NSAID complications and injection-site problems
• Are pregnant (first or second trimester) or breastfeeding

Side Effects

Phlogin 75mg/3ml Injection is generally well tolerated when correctly administered for the intended short duration. Both injection site-specific and systemic NSAID side effects require awareness.

Common Side Effects:

• Injection site pain, redness, swelling, or localised tenderness — most common; expected with deep IM oily or aqueous injections and usually resolves within 24 to 48 hours
• Nausea or mild stomach discomfort
• Heartburn or indigestion
• Mild headache or dizziness
• Mild skin rash or itching

Injection Site-Specific Serious Complications:

• Sciatic nerve injury — the most serious injection-specific risk; occurs if the injection is placed incorrectly outside the upper outer quadrant of the buttock, causing the needle to contact or chemically damage the sciatic nerve — producing immediate severe pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness shooting down the leg; this complication can be permanent and requires immediate medical evaluation
• Sterile abscess — a firm, painful, non-infected localised swelling at the injection site caused by tissue reaction to the injection; more common with repeated injections at the same site
• Haematoma — blood pooling under the skin at the injection site — particularly in patients with clotting problems or on anticoagulants
• Tissue necrosis — rare but serious localised tissue death from incorrect superficial or subcutaneous placement

Serious Systemic Side Effects — Seek Emergency Medical Attention Immediately:

• Gastrointestinal bleeding or ulceration — dark or black tarry stools, vomiting blood, or sudden severe stomach pain — even with short-term injectable use; stop immediately
• Severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis — sudden widespread rash, hives, severe swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing or circulatory collapse (یہ طبی ہنگامی صورتحال ہے)
• Cardiovascular events — chest pain, sudden breathlessness, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, sudden speech difficulty
• Acute kidney injury — significantly reduced urination, rapid ankle or leg swelling — particularly in volume-depleted patients
• Severe liver reaction — jaundice, severe abdominal pain, extreme fatigue
• Severe skin reactions — Stevens-Johnson Syndrome or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis — widespread blistering or peeling skin — rare but life-threatening; stop immediately
• Worsening of asthma — sudden severe wheezing or bronchospasm in aspirin-sensitive patients

If any serious side effect occurs during or after injection, the medical team must be notified and emergency treatment initiated without delay.

Drug Interactions

The treating doctor and pharmacist must be fully informed of all medicines the patient is receiving before Phlogin Injection is administered.

Storage Instructions

• Store unopened ampoules below 25°C in a cool, dry place
• Protect from direct sunlight and heat — Diclofenac solution degrades with light and heat exposure; keep in original packaging until immediately before use
• Keep out of reach of children (بچوں کی پہنچ سے دور رکھیں)
• Do not freeze — freezing may cause precipitation or crystallisation of the solution rendering it unsafe for injection
• Inspect every ampoule carefully before use — the solution must be clear and free of visible particles, cloudiness, or discolouration; discard immediately if the ampoule is cracked, leaking, or the solution appears abnormal
• Use immediately once the ampoule is opened — never store a partially used or opened ampoule for a subsequent dose
• Dispose of used ampoules and needles according to clinical sharps disposal protocols
• Do not use after the expiry date printed on the ampoule label or outer carton

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Phlogin 75mg/3ml Injection different from Dicloran 75mg Injection?

Both Phlogin 75mg/3ml and Dicloran 75mg Injection contain exactly the same active ingredient — Diclofenac Sodium 75mg — at the same concentration of 25mg per ml, and both are administered as deep intramuscular injections into the upper outer buttock. They work through identical mechanisms and are used for the same clinical indications. The difference is the brand name and manufacturer. Clinically and pharmacologically, they are equivalent products — your doctor or hospital will prescribe whichever formulation is available and appropriate in the clinical setting.

Why is Phlogin Injection so effective for kidney stone pain (renal colic)?

Renal colic pain — caused by kidney stones passing through the ureter — is one of the most intensely painful conditions a patient can experience. The pain is driven by two mechanisms: the physical obstruction caused by the stone, and a surge in prostaglandin production that triggers severe ureteral muscle spasm around the stone. Because Diclofenac directly blocks prostaglandin synthesis, it simultaneously reduces the inflammatory pain response and relaxes the ureteral spasm around the stone — providing superior relief compared to simple analgesics. Multiple clinical studies confirm that Diclofenac injection is as effective as opioid analgesics for renal colic, with significantly fewer side effects and no risk of dependency.

What happens if Phlogin Injection is accidentally given into the wrong area of the buttock?

Correct injection site selection is a critical patient safety requirement — not a minor technical detail. If the injection is placed in the inner or lower buttock rather than the upper outer quadrant, the needle can contact or chemically damage the sciatic nerve — the large nerve running through the central and lower buttock region. This can cause immediate severe shooting pain down the leg, and depending on the degree of damage, can result in permanent nerve injury including chronic pain, numbness, weakness, or foot drop. If a patient experiences immediate severe shooting leg pain or numbness after a buttock injection, this must be reported to the doctor immediately for urgent assessment.

Can Phlogin 75mg Injection be combined with other pain medicines?

Yes — Diclofenac injection is commonly combined with other analgesics as part of a multimodal analgesia approach in post-operative pain management. The most common combination is with Paracetamol (either IV or oral) — which is safe and produces additive pain relief because the two medicines act through different pathways. Phlogin should never be combined with another NSAID or with Aspirin above 75mg as this dramatically increases gastrointestinal bleeding risk without providing meaningfully better pain relief. Your doctor will determine the most appropriate analgesic combination for your specific situation and overall pain management plan.

Is Phlogin Injection safe for patients with kidney stones and only one kidney?

This requires very careful clinical assessment. NSAIDs — including Diclofenac — reduce prostaglandin-mediated kidney blood flow, which can cause acute kidney injury particularly in patients who are dehydrated, hypovolaemic, or already have compromised kidney function. In a patient with only one kidney, any further reduction in kidney blood flow carries a much higher risk of serious acute kidney damage. In this specific situation, the treating doctor must carefully weigh the benefit of rapid pain relief against the real risk of acute kidney injury. Adequate hydration and close kidney function monitoring are essential, and alternative analgesics may be preferred depending on the patient's overall kidney status.

How should I manage injection site hardness and pain between doses?

Localised firmness, tenderness, and mild swelling at the Diclofenac injection site are common and expected — caused by tissue reaction to the injection solution and volume. Several practical measures help manage this discomfort between doses. Applying a warm compress to the injection site for 10 to 15 minutes after each injection promotes absorption and reduces local discomfort. Rotating injection sites strictly between doses — alternating between the left and right upper outer buttock — prevents progressive tissue induration from accumulating at a single site. Gentle massage of the area immediately after injection also aids absorption. If the site becomes intensely painful, hot, or discharges fluid, contact your doctor immediately as this may indicate an abscess.

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⚕️ Medical Disclaimer: This product description is provided for general informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Phlogin 75mg/3ml Injection is a prescription-only medicine that must be administered exclusively by a qualified healthcare professional as a deep intramuscular injection into the upper outer quadrant of the buttock only. Never administer intravenously. Short-term use — maximum 2 consecutive days. Any adverse reactions during or after administration must be reported to the medical team immediately.

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DRAP Registered | Prescription Required (Rx) | Deep IM injection into upper outer buttock only — never IV — maximum 2 days — always transition to oral Diclofenac as soon as clinically possible