Did you know? Body pain is the most common type of pain in the UK with over 64% of people suffering from body pain. As many as one in three women and nearly half of men surveyed choose to grin and bear their body pain 1.

Diclofenac has been widely prescribed by doctors for over 30 years and is the most widely prescribed analgesic in the UK 2 . Voltarol Pain-eze® Tablets containing diclofenac potassium, represents a NEW option in over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief. Voltarol Pain-eze® Tablets is available following the switch of diclofenac from a prescription only medicine to an OTC medicine. It is a new addition to the Voltarol® OTC family and comes in a convenient tablet format. Voltarol Pain-eze® Tablets can be used instead of other pain killers like ibuprofen or paracetamol to help manage acute body pain. They have a triple action that helps relieve pain, reduce inflammation and fever. They help relieve muscular pain, rheumatic pain, back aches and period pains - helping to keep you active and moving!

Diclofenac belongs to a family of pain killers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), one of a class of medicines that reduce inflammation and pain. Diclofenac has been prescribed by doctors for over a generation. It is effective because it inhibits the production of prostaglandins which are chemicals responsible for causing pain and inflammation.

According to the Voltarol Brand Manager: This tablets launch heralds a landmark step in body pain management. This over-the-counter switch will allow people to buy diclofenac tablets from their local pharmacy, providing a new option in pain and inflammation relief. Diclofenac is one of the most trusted and successful non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and is a very effective pain killer and anti-inflammatory.

Did you know? People in the UK take an average of 2.39 days off work each year as a result of suffering pain 3 . Pain is the main symptom in eight out of 10 medical consultations 4 .

Voltarol Pain-eze® Tablets are priced at £5.99 for 18 tablets and will be available from leading pharmacies from October.

Also available in gel format, Voltarol® Pain-eze Emulgel® is a pain relieving gel which provides effective relief from pain due to strains and sprains and so helps you get back into action. It penetrates deep to the painful and inflamed area, and acts where it is needed. Voltarol Pain-eze Emulgel is widely available from supermarkets and pharmacies.

Voltarol ® Pain-eze Emulgel® 30g is priced at £4.79
Voltarol ® Pain-eze Emulgel® 50g is priced at £6.99
Voltarol® Pain-eze Emulgel® and Voltarol® Pain-eze Tablets® contain diclofenac
Always read the label.
Ask your pharmacist.

1. Survey conducted by Onepoll on behalf of Voltarol® which questioned over 2,000 respondents in the UK
2. National prescribing centre, Apr 2008
3. Survey conducted by Onepoll on behalf of Voltarol® which questioned over 2,000 respondents in the UK
4. ivillage.co.uk/health/ghealth/discon/articles/0,,181033_182800,00.html Date last accessed 19/08/2008

About Novartis

Novartis AG provides healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Focused solely on growth areas in healthcare, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines and diagnostic tools, and consumer health products. Novartis is the only company with leading positions in these areas. In 2007, the Group's continuing operations (excluding divestments in 2007) achieved net sales of USD 38.1 billion and net income of USD 6.5 billion. Approximately USD 6.4 billion was invested in R&D activities throughout the Group. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 98,200 full-time associates and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit " target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.novartis.com.

The Daily Cost of Body Pain

A survey of over 2,000 people in the UK released today by a body pain relief expert Voltarol®, has looked at how pain affects the nation's everyday lives from our socialising, careers and our relationships. The survey reveals that as many as one in three women and nearly half of men surveyed choose to grin and bear their body pain1. These figures have an impact on the UK economy with each person taking an average of 2.39 days off work this year as a result of body pain1.

-- Over 30% of 2,000 people surveyed were suffering pain that day1
-- In the UK an estimated 4.9 million working days were lost last year due to back-related pain [1]
-- Over 70% of people suffer pain in winter compared to 3% in spring1
-- Headaches and back pain are the type of body pain women experience most often1
-- Pain makes 35% of women less active1
-- 58% of women behave differently towards friends and family because of pain1

Cost to economy:

An estimated 4.9 million working days were lost last year due to back-related pain in Great Britain, with each affected employee taking an average of 19 days off work. The estimated overall cost of back pain to the NHS, business and the economy is a staggering £5 billion per year. [1]

How often we experience pain:

35% of people 60 and over and 15% of 40-49 year olds suffer pain every day with arthritis and back pain being the most common complaints for these age groups. Surprisingly nearly one third of 18-29 year olds suffer from some form of pain with 70% suffering in the winter1. A third of the 18-29 year old respondents said the pain they experience makes them less active1. This is unexpected with the general opinion being that it is older people who are prone to pain while young people are generally seen as physically fit.

So what are people doing about their pain? According to the survey results it appears that the younger age groups are more likely to grin and bear the pain1. New Voltarol Pain-eze® Tablets are launched this year which offer a convenient way to help manage acute body pain and help people to find the joy of movement in their lives again.

Emotional effect of pain:

The survey conducted by Voltarol® revealed that it is not just the physical aspects of pain which take their toll, but the emotional ones too. 43% of men and 58% of women admitted being in pain causes them to act differently to their friends and family1. Pain can hinder people's daily lives and stop them doing what they love, be it gardening, enjoying a game of tennis, playing the piano or something as simple as walking or sitting down.

Help is close at hand:

It is possible to help manage body pain by using a pain reliever such as diclofenac, which is a type of medicine called a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Voltarol® provides 2 options for your pain relief needs - Voltarol® Pain-eze Emulgel® is available in a gel format and is a trusted topical pain treatment that can be used to target the discomfort of pain, and allow people to enjoy a more active life. Alternatively, Voltarol Pain-eze® Tablets can help relieve pain and inflammation in tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints due to bruises, sprains and strains.

Voltarol® Pain-eze Emulgel® has a dual action which helps treat pain and inflammation to provide effective relief from strains and sprains.
Voltarol Pain-eze® Tablets has a triple action that helps relieve pain and reduce inflammation and fever.
Voltarol® Pain-eze Emulgel® and Voltarol® Pain-eze Tablets® contain diclofenac
Always read the label.
Ask your pharmacist.
Voltarol® Pain-eze Emulgel® is widely available from supermarkets and pharmacies (30g RRP £4.79).
Also available as 50g gel (RRP £6.99).
Voltarol® Pain-eze® Tablets will be widely available from pharmacies from October 2008 (18 tablets RRP £5.99).

About Novartis

Novartis AG provides healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Focused solely on growth areas in healthcare, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines and diagnostic tools, and consumer health products. Novartis is the only company with leading positions in these areas. In 2007, the Group's continuing operations (excluding divestments in 2007) achieved net sales of USD 38.1 billion and net income of USD 6.5 billion. Approximately USD 6.4 billion was invested in R&D activities throughout the Group. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 98,200 full-time associates and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com

[1]Trades Union Congress; http://www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-10119-f0.cfm; date last accessed 20/08/2008
[1] Survey conducted by Onepoll on behalf of Voltarol® which questioned over 2,000 respondents in the UK