Flurbiprofen Pronunciation: flure BI proe fen
Brand Name: Ansaid
Important Information Description
Who should not take it?
How should I take it?
What happens if I miss a dose?
What happens if I overdose?
What should I avoid while taking it?
What are the side effects?
What other drugs will affect it?
Where can I get more information?
Brand Names
What is the most important information I should know about flurbiprofen?
• Take flurbiprofen with food, milk, or an antacid to lessen stomach upset.
• Remain upright (sitting or standing) for 15 to 30 minutes after each dose to prevent irritation of your esophagus (throat).
• Watch for bloody, black, or tarry stools or blood in your vomit. These symptoms could indicate damage to your gastrointestinal tract.
• If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, flurbiprofen may increase the risk of stomach bleeding.
What is flurbiprofen?
• Flurbiprofen is in a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Flurbiprofen works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body.
• Flurbiprofen is used to reduce the pain, inflammation, and stiffness caused by arthritis.
• Flurbiprofen may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Who should not take flurbiprofen?
• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you
- have an allergy to aspirin or any other NSAIDs,
- have an ulcer or bleeding in your stomach,
- drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day,
- have liver or kidney disease,
- have a coagulation (bleeding) disorder,
- have congestive heart failure,
- have fluid retention,
- have heart disease, or
- have high blood pressure.
• You may not be able to take flurbiprofen, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
• It is not known whether flurbiprofen will harm an unborn baby. Flurbiprofen should not be taken late in pregnancy (the third trimester) because a similar drug is known to affect the baby's heart. Do not take flurbiprofen without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
• It is not known whether flurbiprofen passes into breast milk. Do not take this drug without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding.
How should I take flurbiprofen?
• Take flurbiprofen exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water.
• Take each dose with food, milk, or an antacid to lessen stomach upset.
• To prevent irritation of your esophagus (throat), do not lie down for 15 to 30 minutes after taking flurbiprofen.
• Store flurbiprofen at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours have passed since the missed dose, skip it and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention.
• Symptoms of a flurbiprofen overdose include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, seizures, sweating, numbness or tingling, little or no urine production, and slow breathing.
What should I avoid while taking flurbiprofen?
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Flurbiprofen may increase the sensitivity of your skin to sunlight. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable.
• If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, flurbiprofen may increase the risk of stomach bleeding.
What are the possible side effects of flurbiprofen?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking flurbiprofen and seek medical treatment or call your doctor immediately:
- an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
- muscle cramps, numbness, or tingling;
- ulcers (open sores) in the mouth;
- rapid weight gain (fluid retention);
- seizures;
- black, bloody or tarry stools
- blood in your urine or vomit;
- decreased hearing or ringing in the ears;
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
- abdominal cramping, indigestion, or heartburn.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take flurbiprofen and talk to your doctor if you experience
- dizziness or headache;
- nausea, gaseousness, diarrhea, or constipation;
- depression;
- fatigue or weakness;
- dry mouth; or
- irregular menstrual periods.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect flurbiprofen?
• Other prescription and over-the-counter drugs may increase the effects of flurbiprofen and cause dangerous side effects. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:
- other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Rufen, others), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), or naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve, Anaprox);
- other commonly used NSAIDs include diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), or tolmetin (Tolectin);
- aspirin and other salicylates (forms of aspirin) such as salsalate (Disalcid), choline salicylate, and magnesium salicylate (watch the aspirin content of other over-the-counter products such as cough, cold, and allergy medicines);
- diuretics (water pills) such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Hydrodiuril, others), chlorothiazide (Diuril, others), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), bumetanide (Bumex), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), spironolactone (Aldactone), and amiloride (Midamor);
- anticoagulants such as warfarin (Coumadin);
- steroids such as prednisone (Deltasone);
- alcohol;
- oral antidiabetic drugs such as glipizide (Glucotrol) and glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta);
- lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, others);
- cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral); or
- bismuth subsalicylate in drugs such as Pepto-Bismol.
• Flurbiprofen can also decrease the effects of other drugs, such as
- angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, used to treat high blood pressure and other conditions, such as benazepril (Lotensin) and captopril (Capoten);
- other commonly used ACE inhibitors, including enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace); and
- beta-blockers, used to treat high blood pressure and other conditions, such as acebutolol (Sectral), metoprolol (Lopressor), propranolol (Inderal), atenolol (Tenormin), and carteolol (Cartrol).
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with flurbiprofen. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about flurbiprofen written for health professionals that you may read.
From WebMD