Roflumilast, sold under the trade name Daxas among others, is a drug that acts as a selective, long-acting
inhibitor of the enzyme phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4). It has
anti-inflammatory
Anti-inflammatory is the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation or swelling. Anti-inflammatory drugs, also called anti-inflammatories, make up about half of analgesics. These drugs remedy pain by reducing inflammation as op ...
effects and is used as an orally administered drug for the treatment of inflammatory conditions of the lungs such as
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a type of progressive lung disease characterized by long-term respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. The main symptoms include shortness of breath and a cough, which may or may not produce m ...
(COPD).
In June 2010, it was approved in the European Union for severe COPD associated with chronic bronchitis.
In February 2011, it gained FDA approval in the United States for reducing COPD exacerbations. It is available as a
generic medication
A generic drug is a pharmaceutical drug that contains the same chemical substance as a drug that was originally protected by chemical patents. Generic drugs are allowed for sale after the patents on the original drugs expire. Because the active c ...
.
Medical uses
Roflumilast is
indicated
In medicine, an indication is a valid reason to use a certain test, medication, procedure, or surgery. There can be multiple indications to use a procedure or medication. An indication can commonly be confused with the term diagnosis. A diagnosis ...
for the treatment of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
and for the treatment of plaque psoriasis.
It is used in the prevention of exacerbations (lung attacks) in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
A topical formulation of Rolflumilast was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for plaque psoriasis.
Adverse effects
Common (1–10% incidence) adverse effects include:
References
External links
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