Flurbiprofen

See Table 1 for clinically significant drug interactions with flurbiprofen. Table 1: Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with Flurbiprofen Drugs That Interfere with Hemostasis Clinical Impact: Flurbiprofen and anticoagulants such as warfarin have a synergistic effect on bleeding. The concomitant use of flurbiprofen and anticoagulants have an increased risk of serious bleeding compared to the use of either drug alone. Serotonin release by platelets plays an important role in hemostasis. Case-control and cohort epidemiological studies showed that concomitant use of drugs that interfere with serotonin reuptake and an NSAID may potentiate the risk of bleeding more than an NSAID alone.

Intervention: Monitor patients with concomitant use of flurbiprofen with anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin), antiplatelet agents (e.g., aspirin), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) for signs of bleeding [ see Warnings and Precautions (5) ]. Aspirin Clinical Impact: Controlled clinical studies showed that the concomitant use of NSAIDs and analgesic doses of aspirin does not produce any greater therapeutic effect than the use of NSAIDs alone.

In a clinical study, the concomitant use of an NSAID and aspirin was associated with a significantly increased incidence of GI adverse reactions as compared to use of the NSAID alone [ see Warnings and Precautions (5) ]. Concurrent administration of aspirin lowers serum flurbiprofen concentrations. The clinical significance of this interaction is not known. Intervention: Concomitant use of flurbiprofen and analgesic doses of aspirin is not generally recommended because of the increased risk of bleeding [ see Warnings and Precautions (5) ]. Flurbiprofen is not a substitute for low dose aspirin for cardiovascular protection.

ACE Inhibitors, Angiotensin Receptor Blockers, and Beta-Blockers Clinical Impact: NSAIDs may diminish the antihypertensive effect of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), or beta-blockers (including propranolol). In patients who are elderly, volume-depleted (including those on diuretic therapy), or have renal impairment, coadministration of an NSAID with ACE inhibitors or ARBs may result in deterioration of renal function, including possible acute renal failure. These effects are usually reversible.

Intervention: During concomitant use of flurbiprofen and ACE-inhibitors, ARBs, or beta-blockers, monitor blood pressure to ensure that the desired blood pressure is obtained. During concomitant use of flurbiprofen and ACE-inhibitors or ARBs in patients who are elderly, volume-depleted, or have impaired renal function, monitor for signs of worsening renal function [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ]. When drugs are administered concomitantly, patients should be adequately hydrated. Assess renal function at the beginning of the concomitant treatment and periodically thereafter.

Diuretics Clinical Impact: Clinical studies, as well as post-marketing observations, showed that NSAIDs reduced the natriuretic effect of loop diuretics (e.g., furosemide) and thiazide diuretics in some patients. This effect has been attributed to the NSAID inhibition of renal prostaglandin synthesis. Intervention: During concomitant use of flurbiprofen with diuretics, observe patients for signs of worsening renal function, in addition to assuring diuretic efficacy including antihypertensive effects [ see Warnings and Precautions (5) ].

Digoxin Clinical Impact: The concomitant use of flurbiprofen with digoxin has been reported to increase the serum concentration and prolong the half-life of digoxin [ see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. Intervention: During concomitant use of flurbiprofen and digoxin, monitor serum digoxin levels. Lithium Clinical Impact: NSAIDs have produced elevations in plasma lithium levels and reductions in renal lithium clearance. The mean minimum lithium concentration increased 15%, and the renal clearance decreased by approximately 20%. This effect has been attributed to NSAID inhibition of renal prostaglandin synthesis.

Intervention: During concomitant use of flurbiprofen and lithium, monitor patients for signs of lithium toxicity. Methotrexate Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of NSAIDs and methotrexate may increase the risk for methotrexate toxicity (e.g., neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, renal dysfunction). Intervention: During concomitant use of flurbiprofen and methotrexate, monitor patients for methotrexate toxicity. Cyclosporine Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of flurbiprofen and cyclosporine may increase cyclosporine's nephrotoxicity. Intervention: During concomitant use of flurbiprofen and cyclosporine, monitor patients for signs of worsening renal function.

NSAIDs and Salicylates Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of flurbiprofen with other NSAIDs or salicylates (e.g., diflunisal, salsalate) increases the risk of GI toxicity, with little or no increase in efficacy [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ]. Intervention: The concomitant use of flurbiprofen with other NSAIDs or salicylates is not recommended. Pemetrexed Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of flurbiprofen and pemetrexed may increase the risk of pemetrexed-associated myelosuppression, renal, and GI toxicity (see the pemetrexed prescribing information).

Intervention: During concomitant use of flurbiprofen and pemetrexed, in patients with renal impairment whose creatinine clearance ranges from 45 to 79 mL/min, monitor for myelosuppression, renal and GI toxicity. NSAIDs with short elimination half-lives (e.g., diclofenac, indomethacin) should be avoided for a period of two days before, the day of, and two days following administration of pemetrexed. In the absence of data regarding potential interaction between pemetrexed and NSAIDs with longer half-lives (e.g., meloxicam, nabumetone), patients taking these NSAIDs should interrupt dosing for at least five days before, the day of, and two days following pemetrexed administration.

Corticosteroids Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of corticosteroids with flurbiprofen may increase the risk of GI ulceration or bleeding. Intervention: Monitor patients with concomitant use of flurbiprofen with corticosteroids for signs of bleeding [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ]. Drugs that Interfere with Hemostasis (e.g. warfarin, aspirin, SSRIs/SNRIs) : Monitor patients for bleeding who are concomitantly taking flurbiprofen with drugs that interfere with hemostasis.

Concomitant use of flurbiprofen and analgesic doses of aspirin is not generally recommended ( 7 ) ACE Inhibitors, Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARB), or Beta-Blockers : Concomitant use with flurbiprofen may diminish the antihypertensive effect of these drugs. Monitor blood pressure ( 7 ) ACE Inhibitors and ARBs : Concomitant use with flurbiprofen in elderly, volume depleted, or those with renal impairment may result in deterioration of renal function. In such high risk patients, monitor for signs of worsening renal function ( 7 ) Diuretics : NSAIDs can reduce natriuretic effect of furosemide and thiazide diuretics.

Monitor patients to assure diuretic efficacy including antihypertensive effects ( 7 )

8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Use of NSAIDs, including flurbiprofen tablets, can cause premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus and fetal renal dysfunction leading to oligohydramnios and, in some cases, neonatal renal impairment. Because of these risks, limit dose and duration of flurbiprofen tablets use between about 20 and 30 weeks of gestation, and avoid flurbiprofen tablets use at about 30 weeks of gestation and later in pregnancy [ see Clinical Considerations , Data ]. Premature Closure of Fetal Ductus Arteriosus Use of NSAIDs, including flurbiprofen tablets, at about 30 weeks gestation or later in pregnancy increases the risk of premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus.

Oligohydramnios/Neonatal Renal Impairment Use of NSAIDs at about 20 weeks gestation or later in pregnancy has been associated with cases of fetal renal dysfunction leading to oligohydramnios, and in some cases, neonatal renal impairment. Data from observational studies regarding potential embryofetal risks of NSAID use in U.S. population, all clinically recognized pregnancies, regardless of drug exposure, women in the first or second trimesters of pregnancy are inconclusive. In the general have a background rate of 2 to 4% for major malformations, and 15 to 20% for pregnancy loss.

In animal reproduction studies, delayed parturition, prolonged labor, stillborn fetuses, and the presence of retained fetuses at necropsy occurred following treatment of pregnant rats treated with oral flurbiprofen throughout gestation until labor at less than 1-time the human dose of 300 mg/day. Embryofetal lethality was seen in pregnant rats and rabbits administered oral flurbiprofen during the period of organogenesis at exposures 0.03-times and 0.5 times, respectively, the human dose of 300 mg.

No evidence of malformations were noted in rats, rabbits, or mice treated with flurbiprofen during the period of organogenesis at doses that were 0.8-, 0.5-, and 0.2-times the maximum human daily dose [ see Data ]. Based on animal data, prostaglandins have been shown to have an important role in endometrial vascular permeability, blastocyst implantation, and decidualization. In animal studies, administration of prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors such as flurbiprofen, resulted in increased pre- and post-implantation loss. Prostaglandins also have been shown to have an important role in fetal kidney development.

In published animal studies, prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors have been reported to impair kidney development when administered at clinically relevant doses. Clinical Considerations…