Strategies and practice for use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Safety and effectiveness of 4-week therapy with aceclofenac controlled release once a day

Aceclofenac controlled-release (CR) is a once-a-day tablet with 200 mg of aceclofenac, and is bioequivalent to conventional aceclofenac. However, its safety in humans has not been well studied in Korea. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the overall incidence and patterns of adverse events (AEs), the effectiveness of aceclofenac CR, and the differences in incidence rates of the AEs based on each patient’s baseline charateristics. This study was conducted on patients receiving aceclofenac CR in clinical practice at each investigational institution to treat musculoskeletal pain and inflammation. The subjects were administered one tablet of aceclofenac CR (200 mg once-a-day) and were observed for 4 weeks post-administration. Factors affecting the occurrence of AEs were evaluated, and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to measure the pain intensity. Among 14,543 subjects, the incidence rate of AEs was 0.86%, and that of adverse drug reactions was 0.74%. No serious AEs and unexpected adverse drug reactions were monitored. The incidence rates of AEs were significantly higher in females, inpatient treatment, individuals with concurrent disorders, and those receiving concomitant medications, respectively (all P < 0.05). Four weeks post-using aceclofenac CR, the mean changes in VAS was significantly decreased compared to prior administration. The overall clinical efficacy rate was 91.63%. This study confirmed that no severe adverse reactions were observed for aceclofenac CR exceeding those previously reported for safety results of conventional formulation of this drug in routine clinical practice settings. The use of aceclofenac CR might not violate the previously reported information on the safety and effectiveness of aceclofenac.

POST ENDOSCOPIC RETROGRADE CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY PANCREATITIS PROPHYLAXIS: EVALUATION OF TWO DIFFERENT NSAID REGIMENS

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a widely used therapeutic modality for the pancreaticobiliary tree. However, it is responsible for the highest rates of complications among the endoscopic procedures, especially post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis. The preventive methods include mechanical and pharmacological approaches, such as the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of two different strategies using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis, and to clarify the uncertainty about the route of administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the prevention of this complication.

METHODS

This was a prospective trial. Two therapeutic groups were compared with a control group that was composed of patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, performed in the same service and by the same team in the period preceding the study (historical series), without the administration of any type of prophylaxis. The first group received 100 mg rectal diclofenac. The second group received 100 mg intravenous ketoprofen. Both groups were compared, separately and jointly, with the control group.

RESULTS

Post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis occurred in 4.39% (12/273) of the participants. In the group without prophylaxis, the incidence was 6.89% (10/145). Among those who received intravenous ketoprofen, the incidence was 2.56% (2/78). No cases of acute post-procedural pancreatitis were observed in the group that received rectal diclofenac (0/52). Although there was no statistical difference between the therapeutic groups when they were separately analyzed, a statistical difference in the prevention of post-procedural pancreatitis was observed when they were analyzed together (P=0.037).

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence for the efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the prophylaxis of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis.

Ketoprofen combined with artery graft entubulization improves functional recovery of transected peripheral nerves

The objective was to assess the local effect of ketoprofen on sciatic nerve regeneration and functional recovery. Eighty healthy male white Wistar rats were randomized into four experimental groups of 20 animals each: In the transected group (TC), the left sciatic nerve was transected and nerve cut ends were fixed in the adjacent muscle. In the treatment group the defect was bridged using an artery graft (AG/Keto) filled with 10 microliter ketoprofen (0.1 mg/kg). In the artery graft group (AG), the graft was filled with phosphated-buffer saline alone. In the sham-operated group (SHAM), the sciatic nerve was exposed and manipulated. Each group was subdivided into four subgroups of five animals each and regenerated nerve fibres were studied at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks post operation. Behavioural testing, sciatic nerve functional study, gastrocnemius muscle mass and morphometric indices showed earlier regeneration of axons in AG/Keto than in AG group (p < 0.05). Immunohistochemical study clearly showed more positive location of reactions to S-100 in AG/Keto than in AG group. When loaded in an artery graft, ketoprofen improved functional recovery and morphometric indices of the sciatic nerve. Local usage of this easily accessible therapeutic medicine is cost saving and avoids the problems associated with systemic administration.

Incidence of spontaneous notifications of adverse reactions with aceclofenac, meloxicam, and rofecoxib during the first year after marketing in the United Kingdom

The objective was to compare the incidence of adverse reactions reported with three nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with different cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 selectivity. All spontaneous adverse reaction notifications in the pharmacovigilance database of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for International Drug Monitoring with aceclofenac, meloxicam, and rofecoxib that were recorded during the first year of marketing were included. The incidence rate (adverse reactions/10⁶ defined daily dose) and 95% confidence interval for total adverse reactions was 8.7 (6.1–12.0) for aceclofenac, 24.8 (23.1–26.6) for meloxicam, and 52.6 (49.9–55.4) for rofecoxib. Aceclofenac had a lower incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain, and arterial hypertension than meloxicam and a lower incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain, liver toxicity, thromboembolic cardiovascular events, arterial hypertension, and edema than rofecoxib. The incidence of total and gastrointestinal adverse reactions was significantly lower with aceclofenac than with meloxicam or rofecoxib, thus raising doubts about the hypothetical advantage of COX-2 selective inhibitors.

Development and physicochemical evaluation of pharmacosomes of diclofenac

Pharmacosomes are amphiphilic lipid vesicular systems that have shown their potential in improving the bioavailability of poorly water soluble as well as poorly lipophilic drugs. Diclofenac is a poorly water soluble drug and also causes gastrointestinal toxicity. To improve the water solublity of diclofenac, its pharmacosomes (phospholipid complex) have been prepared and evaluated for physicochemical analysis. Diclofenac was complexed with phosphatidylcholine (80%) in equimolar ratio, in the presence of dichloromethane, by the conventional solvent evaporation technique. Pharmacosomes thus prepared were evaluated for drug solubility, drug content, surface morphology (by scanning electron microscopy), phase transition behaviour (by differential scanning calorimetry), crystallinity (by X-ray powder diffraction) and in vitro dissolution. Pharmacosomes of diclofenac were found to be irregular or disc shaped with rough surfaces in SEM. Drug content was found to be 96.2 +/- 1.1%. DSC thermograms and XRPD data confirmed the formation of the phospholipid complex. Water solubility of the prepared complex was found to be 22.1 microg mL-1 as compared to 10.5 microg mL-1 of diclofenac. This improvement in water solubility in prepared pharmacosomes may result in improved dissolution and lower gastrointestinal toxicity. Pharmacosomes showed 87.8% while the free diclofenac acid showed a total of only 60.4% drug release at the end of 10 h of dissolution study.