Contrary to a common belief among healthcare providers, diclofenac potassium does not offer a safety advantage over diclofenac sodium in patients with hypertension.

1- The primary distinction between diclofenac potassium and sodium lies in their pharmacokinetic properties. Potassium salts exhibit greater water solubility, leading to faster absorption and a quicker onset of pain relief compared to sodium salts. This characteristic explains their use in rapidly dissolving formulations like Voltfast, while diclofenac sodium is often formulated for sustained release as seen in Voltaren SR.

2- Both diclofenac sodium and potassium, as with all NSAIDs, require careful consideration in hypertensive patients due to their potential to elevate blood pressure.

3- Diclofenac sodium’s cautionary use in hypertensive patients stems primarily from its NSAID properties, not its sodium content. A typical 100mg tablet contains only 7.2mg of sodium, a negligible amount compared to the recommended daily limit of 1.5g for hypertensive individuals. Even hypothetically assuming the entire tablet was sodium, it would still only represent a small fraction (6.7%) of the daily allowance.

In conclusion, neither diclofenac potassium nor sodium offers superior safety in hypertensive patients. Both, like all NSAIDs, require careful use due to their potential to elevate blood pressure.