The present invention is directed to a pharmaceutical composition containing a unit dose of a diclofenac compound effective to induce analgesia; and a beta-cyclodextrin compound; wherein the dose of the diclofenac compound is less than 75 mg, e.g., from about 18.75 mg to about 37.5 mg. The present invention is also directed to methods of treating a subject in need of analgesia with the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention.