Fenoprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Fenoprofen calcium is used for symptomatic relief for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and mild to moderate pain. It has also been used to treat postoperative pain. Fenoprofen is marketed in the US as Nalfon. It is available as a generic medication.

Pharmacology

Decreases inflammation, pain, and fever, probably through inhibition of cyclooxygenase (

COX-2 inhibitor COX-2 inhibitors are a type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that directly targets cyclooxygenase-2, COX-2, an enzyme responsible for inflammation and pain. Targeting selectivity for COX-2 reduces the risk of peptic ulceration and i ...

) activity and prostaglandin synthesis.

Chirality and biological activity

Fenoprofen is chiral drug with one stereogenic center and exists as chiral twins. (S)-enantiomer has the desired pharmacological action where as the (R)-isomer is less active. It is observed that there is stereoselective bioconversion of the (R)- to (S)-fenoprofen. This stereoselective conversion is called chiral inversion.

Contraindications

History of significantly impaired renal function; patients with known hypersensitivity to any component of the product; patients who have experienced

asthma Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, co ...

urticaria Hives, also known as urticaria, is a kind of skin rash with red, raised, itchy bumps. Hives may burn or sting. The patches of rash may appear on different body parts, with variable duration from minutes to days, and does not leave any long-last ...

, or allergic-type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs; treatment of perioperative pain in the setting of

coronary artery bypass graft Coronary artery bypass surgery, also known as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG, pronounced "cabbage") is a surgical procedure to treat coronary artery disease (CAD), the buildup of plaques in the arteries of the heart. It can relieve chest pai ...

(CABG) surgery.

Adverse effects

In October 2020, the U.S.

Food and Drug Administration The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA or US FDA) is a List of United States federal agencies, federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is respon ...

(FDA) required the drug label to be updated for all nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications to describe the risk of kidney problems in unborn babies that result in low amniotic fluid. They recommend avoiding NSAIDs in pregnant women at 20 weeks or later in pregnancy.

Drug interactions

Aminoglycoside Aminoglycoside is a medicinal and bacteriologic category of traditional Gram-negative antibacterial medications that inhibit protein synthesis and contain as a portion of the molecule an amino-modified glycoside (sugar). The term can also refer ...

s (e.g. gentamicin): Plasma aminoglycoside levels may be elevated. * Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: Antihypertensive effect of ACE inhibitors may be diminished. * Anticoagulants: Coadministration may prolong

prothrombin time The prothrombin time (PT) – along with its derived measures of prothrombin ratio (PR) and international normalized ratio (INR) – is an assay for evaluating the ''extrinsic'' pathway and common pathway of coagulation. This blood test is als ...

. *Aspirin: Fenoprofen Cl may be increased; coadministration is not recommended. *Diuretics: Patients treated with fenoprofen may be resistant to the effects of

loop diuretic Loop diuretics are diuretics that act on the Na-K-Cl cotransporter along the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle in the kidney. They are primarily used in medicine to treat hypertension and edema often due to congestive heart failure ...

s and

thiazide Thiazide () refers to both a class of sulfur-containing organic molecules and a class of diuretics based on the chemical structure of benzothiadiazine. The thiazide drug class was discovered and developed at Merck and Co. in the 1950s. The firs ...

s. *

Hydantoins Hydantoin, or glycolylurea, is a heterocyclic organic compound with the formula CH2C(O)NHC(O)NH. It is a colorless solid that arises from the reaction of glycolic acid and urea. It is an oxidized derivative of imidazolidine. In a more general se ...

, sulfonamides,

sulfonylurea Sulfonylureas (UK: sulphonylurea) are a class of organic compounds used in medicine and agriculture, for example as antidiabetic drugs widely used in the management of diabetes mellitus type 2. They act by increasing insulin release from the bet ...

s: Fenoprofen may displace these drugs from their binding site. *Lithium: Renal Cl of

lithium Lithium (from el, λίθος, lithos, lit=stone) is a chemical element with the symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal. Under standard conditions, it is the least dense metal and the least dense solid ...

may be reduced and plasma levels may be elevated, which may increase the risk of lithium toxicity. *Methotrexate: May increase methotrexate levels. *Phenobarbital: May decrease fenoprofen t . Dosage adjustments of fenoprofen may be required if

phenobarbital Phenobarbital, also known as phenobarbitone or phenobarb, sold under the brand name Luminal among others, is a medication of the barbiturate type. It is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the treatment of certain types of ep ...

is added or withdrawn. *SSRIs (e.g. fluoxetine,

citalopram Citalopram, sold under the brand name Celexa among others, is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. It is used to treat major depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and so ...

): The risk of GI effects may be increased.

Laboratory test interactions

False elevation in free and total serum T 3 as measured by Amerlex-M kit.

Brand names

UK - ''Fenopron'' ( Typharm Limited)

References

External links

Fenoprofen info from Drugs.com
{{Prostanoidergics Propionic acids Diphenyl ethers Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs