Flurbiprofen: Uses, Side Effects, Dosage, Interactions and Storage

It is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), effective in treating fever, pain, and inflammation in the body.

It is similar to ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil), naproxen (Naprosyn), and others.

As a group, NSAIDs are non-narcotic pain relievers for mild to moderate pain of many causes, including injury, menstrual cramps, arthritis, and other musculoskeletal conditions.

They work by reducing the levels of prostaglandins, chemicals responsible for pain, fever, and inflammation.

Flurbiprofen blocks the enzyme that makes prostaglandins (cyclooxygenase), resulting in lower concentrations of prostaglandins. As a consequence, inflammation, pain, and fever are reduced.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved flurbiprofen in October 1988.

Flurbiprofen is not available under any brand name, but it can be purchased as a generic drug, and a prescription is required to purchase it in pharmacies.

 

What are the uses of flurbiprofen?

Flurbiprofen is used to treat inflammation and pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, as well as soft tissue injuries such as tendonitis and bursitis.

What are the side effects?

Most patients benefit from flurbiprofen and other NSAIDs with few side effects. However, serious side effects can occur, and they generally tend to be dose-related.

Therefore, it is often desirable to use the lowest effective dose to minimize side effects. The most common side effects of flurbiprofen involve the gastrointestinal system. These are:

  • Ulcerations.
  • Abdominal burn
  • Pain.
  • Cramps
  • Indigestion.
  • Constipation .
  • Headache.
  • Nervousness.
  • Drowsiness.
  • Water retention.
  • Sensitivity to sunlight.
  • Nausea.
  • Gastritis.
  • Severe gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Hepatic toxicity.

Sometimes the ulcer and bleeding can occur without abdominal pain. When standing up, black tarry stools, weakness, and dizziness may be the only signs of internal bleeding.

Other significant side effects include:

Flurbiprofen should be avoided by patients with a history of asthma attacks, hives, or other allergic reactions to aspirin or other NSAIDs. Rare but severe allergic reactions have been reported in such individuals.

It should also be avoided in patients with peptic ulcers or kidney failure, as this drug can aggravate both conditions.

Like other NSAIDs, flurbiprofen can cause heart attacks and strokes, fluid build-up and worsen heart failure, and cause or worsen hypertension and kidney failure.

What is the dose of flurbiprofen?

  • The recommended dose is 50 to 100 mg 2 to 4 times a day.
  • The maximum daily amount is 300 mg.

Flurbiprofen should be taken with food to reduce stomach upset.

What medications or supplements interact with flurbiprofen?

Due to the increased risk of bleeding, Flurbiprofen is generally used with caution in patients taking blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven).

Patients taking lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith) may develop toxic blood levels of lithium because flurbiprofen can inhibit the removal of lithium from the body by the kidney.

The side effects of methotrexate (Trexall, Rheumatrex) and cyclosporine can also be increased by flurbiprofen.

Flurbiprofen can reduce the effectiveness of medications used to treat high blood pressure because it causes or worsens this condition.

NSAIDs can decrease the blood pressure-lowering the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.

In elderly patients (including those on diuretic therapy) or with poor kidney function, it can lead to reduced kidney function, including kidney failure, if:

  • NSAIDs are combined with angiotensin receptor blockers (eg, valsartan [Diovan], losartan [Cozaar], irbesartan [Avapro]).
  • It is combined with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (e.g., enalapril [Vasotec], captopril [Captoen]).

These effects are generally reversible.

People who consume more than three alcoholic drinks per day are at a higher risk of developing stomach ulcers when taking flurbiprofen or other NSAIDs.

Is it safe to take medicine if pregnant or breastfeeding?

Flurbiprofen is generally avoided during pregnancy and is excreted in human milk.

To avoid adverse effects on the baby, breastfeeding mothers must decide whether to stop breastfeeding or discontinue flurbiprofen.

What are preparations of flurbiprofen available?

This medicine comes in 50 and 100 mg tablets.

How should it be stored?

Ideally, it should be stored at room temperature 20 ° to 25 ° C in a sealed, moisture-free container.