Brands, Medical Use, Clinical Data
Drug Category
- Anti-inflammatory Agents
- Analgesics
- Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents (NSAIDs)
- Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors
- Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
Dosage Forms
- Capsule (sustained-release)
- Liquid
- Tablet
Brands / Synonyms
Adfeed; Ansaid; Antadys; Apo-Flurbiprofen; Cebutid; FLP; Flurbiprofen; Flurbiprofen Axetil; Flurbiprofen Sodium; Flurbiprofene [Inn-French]; Flurbiprofeno [Inn-Spanish]; Flurbiprofenum [Inn-Latin]; Flurofen; Froben; Froben Sr; Novo-Flurprofen; Nu-Flurbiprofen; Ocufen; Stayban; Zepolas
Indications
Flurbiprofen tablets are indicated for the acute or long-term treatment of the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteorarthritis.
Pharmacology
Flurbiprofen, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) of the propionic acid class, is used for the relief of pain and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis and for the inhibition of intraoperative miosis. Flurbiprofen exhibits antiinflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activities.
Mechanism of Action
The antiinflammatory effect of flurbiprofen may result from the reversible inhibition of cyclooxygenase, causing the peripheral inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. Flurbiprofen also inhibits the migration of leukocytes into sites of inflammation and prevents the formation of thromboxane A2, an aggregating agent, by the platelets.
Absorption
The mean oral bioavailability of flurbiprofen from tablets is 96% relative to an oral solution.
Toxicity
LD50=10 mg/kg (orally in dogs).
Biotrnasformation / Drug Metabolism
Hepatic. Cytochrome P450 2C9 plays an important role in the metabolism of flurbiprofen to its major metabolite, 4’-hydroxy-flurbiprofen. The 4’-hydroxy-flurbiprofen metabolite showed little anti-inflammatory activity in animal models of inflammation.
Contraindications
Flurbiprofen tablets are contraindicated in patients who have previously demonstrated hypersensitivity to the
product flurbiprofen should not be given to patients in whom flurbiprofen, aspirin, or other nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs induce asthma urticaria or other allergic-type reactions. Fatal asthmatic reactions have been
reported in such patients receiving this type of drug.
Drug Interactions
Antacids: Administration of flurbiprofen to volunteers under fasting conditions, or with antacid suspension
yielded similar serum flurbiprofen time profiles in young subjects (n=12). In geriatric subjects (n=7) there was a
reduction in the rate but not the extent of flurbiprofen absorption.
Anticoagulants: Flurbiprofen like other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, has been shown to affect
bleeding parameters in patients receiving anti-coagulants, and serious clinical bleeding has been reported. The
physician should be cautious when administering flurbiprofen to patients taking anticoagulants.
Aspirin: Concurrent administration of aspirin and flurbiprofen resulted in 50% lower serum flurbiprofen
concentrations. This effect of aspirin (which also lowers serum concentrations of other nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs given with it) has been demonstrated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (n= 15) as well as
normal volunteers (n= 16). Concurrent use of flurbiprofen and aspirin is therefore not recommended.
Beta-adrenergic Blocking Agents: The effect of flurbiprofen on blood pressure response to propranolol and
atenolol was evaluated in men with mild uncomplicated hypertension (n = 10). Flurbiprofen pretreatment attenuated the
hypotensive effect of a single dose of propranolol but not atenolol. Flurbiprofen did not appear to affect the
beta-blocker-mediated reduction in heart rate. Flurbiprofen did not affect the pharmacokinetic profile of either
drug, and the mechanism under lying the interference with propranolol's hypotensive effect is unknown. Patients
taking both flurbiprofen and a beta-blocker should be monitored to ensure that a satisfactory hypotensive effect is
achieved.
Cimetidine, Ranitidine: In normal volunteers (n=9), pretreatment with cimetidine or ranitidine did not
affect flurbiprofen pharmacokinetics except that a small (13 %) but statistically significant increase in the area
under the serum concentration curve of flurbiprofen resulted with cimetidine.
Digoxin: Studies of concomitant administration of flurbiprofen and digoxin to healthy men (n= 14) did not
show a change in the steady state serum levels of either drug.
Diuretics: Studies in normal volunteers have shown that flurbiprofen like other nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs, can interfere with the effects of furosemide. Although results have varied from study to
study, effects have been shown on furosemide-stimulated diuresis, natriuresis, and kaliuresis. Other nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs that inhibit prostaglandin synthesis have been shown to interfere with thiazide diuretics in
some studies and with potassium-sparing diuretics. Patients receiving flurbiprofen and furosemide or other diuretics
should be observed closely to determine if the desired effect is obtained.
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: In one study, flurbiprofen was given to adult diabetics who were already
receiving glyburide (n=4), metformin (n=2) chlorpropamide with phenformin (n= 3) or glyburide with phenformin (n=6).
Although there was a slight reduction in blood sugar concentrations during concomitant administration of flurbiprofen
and hypoglycemic agents, there were no signs or symptoms of hypoglycemia.
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