Flurbiprofen

Flurbiprofen is a prescription medication used to treat the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

• Flurbiprofen is available under the following different brand names: Ansaid, Flurprofen, Froben, Froben SR

Common side effects of Flurbiprofen include:

• indigestion,
• stomach pain,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• confusion,
• tremors,
• nervousness,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• increased sweating,
• itching,
• rash, and
• ringing in your ears

Serious side effects of Flurbiprofen include:

• hives,
• difficulty breathing,
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat,
• sneezing,
• wheezing,
• chest pain spreading to the jaw or shoulder,
• sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body,
• slurred speech,
• shortness of breath,
• vision changes,
• skin rash (no matter how mild),
• swelling or rapid weight gain,
• bloody or tarry stools,
• coughing up blood,
• vomit that looks like coffee grounds,
• nausea,
• upper stomach pain,
• itching,
• tired feeling,
• loss of appetite,
• flu-like symptoms,
• dark urine,
• clay-colored stools,
• yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice),
• little or no urination,
• painful or difficult urination,
• swelling in the feet or ankles,
• tiredness,
• pale skin,
• light-headedness,
• rapid heart rate,
• trouble concentrating,
• fever,
• sore throat,
• burning in your eyes, and
• skin pain followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling

Rare side effects of Flurbiprofen include:

• none 

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors;
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheartedness, or passing out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adult dosage

Tablet

• 50 mg
• 100 mg

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Adult and Geriatric dosage

• 200-300 mg/day divided every 6-12 hours orally, not to exceed 100 mg/dose or 300 mg/day
• Take with food or 8-12 ounce of water to avoid GI effects

Osteoarthritis

Adult dosage

• 200-300 mg/day divided every 6-12 hours orally, not to exceed 100 mg/dose or 300 mg/day
• Take with food or 8-12 ounce of water to avoid GI effects

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Flurbiprofen has severe interactions with no other drugs.
• Flurbiprofen has serious interactions with at least 21 other drugs.
• Flurbiprofen has moderate interactions with at least 239 other drugs.
• Flurbiprofen has minor interactions with at least 101 other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your products. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Absolute: hypersensitivity to flurbiprofen, ASA allergy, history of aspirin triad, CABG
• Relative: Bleeding disorders, duodenal/gastric/peptic ulcer, stomatitis, ulcerative colitis, upper GI disease, late pregnancy (may cause premature closure of ductus arteriosus)

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Flurbiprofen?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Flurbiprofen?”

Cautions

• Use caution in asthma (bronchial), cardiac disease, CHF, hepatic/renal impairment, HTN, SLE
• The potential risk of adverse cardiovascular events
• Long-term administration of NSAIDs may result in renal papillary necrosis and another renal injury; patients at greatest risk include the elderly, or those with impaired renal function, hypovolemia, heart failure, liver dysfunction, salt depletion, and individuals taking diuretics, ACE inhibitors, or ARBs
• Heart Failure (HF) risk
  • NSAIDs have the potential to trigger HF by prostaglandin inhibition that leads to sodium and water retention, increased systemic vascular resistance, and blunted response to diuretics
  • NSAIDs should be avoided or withdrawn whenever possible
  • AHA/ACC Heart Failure Guidelines; Circulation. 2016; 134

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Use with caution if the benefits outweigh the risks during pregnancy. Avoid late pregnancy
• Lactation
  • Excreted in breast milk; not recommended