Antinociceptive local activity of 4-allyl-1-hydroxy-2-methoxybenzene (eugenol) by the formalin test: an anti-inflammatory effect

Eugenol has been employed for decades as a condiment, an antimycotic, an antibacterial, an antiviral, and an antioxidant, and it is one of the natural analgesics most frequently utilized for pain and inflammation. Our objective was to determine the analgesic/anti-inflammatory effect of eugenol compared with diclofenac, naproxen, and tramadol using the formalin test. The formalin method was used in 6- to 10-week-old Wistar rats (weighing 250 g each) divided into six groups: saline (0.9%); formalin (5%); diclofenac (250 µg/kg); naproxen (400 µg/kg); tramadol (500 µg/kg), and eugenol (1,400 µg/kg), in the intraplantar part of the hind-end trunk of the rats, with n = 5 per group. Eugenol diminished 44.4% of nociceptive behavior in phase 1 and 48% in phase 2 (p ≤0.05 vs formalin). Eugenol was shown to be 1.14 times more effective than diclofenac, but 1.62 and 1.75 times less effective than naproxen and tramadol, respectively, in phase 1 and 1.45 times less effective than diclofenac and naproxen and 1.66 less effective than tramadol in phase 2 (p ≤0.05). These data suggest that eugenol possesses moderate activity in the acute pain phase and greater activity in inflammatory-type pain, and both effects are comparable to those produced by diclofenac and are less than the effects produced by naproxen and tramadol in the formalin test

Riesgo cardiovascular de los antiinflamatorios no esteroideos / Cardiovascular risk of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug

Los antiinflamatorios no esteroideos (AINEs) se encuentran entre los fármacos más utilizados en la práctica clínica. Actúan mediante el bloqueo de las enzimas ciclooxigenasas (COX), pero el grado de inhibición de COX-1 y COX-2 varía entre ellos. Se ha generalizado la clasificación entre COX-2 selectivos o coxibs, y los no selectivos o AINEs tradicionales. Tanto los efectos analgésico y antiinflamatorio como los efectos adversos cardiovasculares dependen de la inhibición de COX-2. Este trabajo revisa las evidencias disponibles del aumento del riesgo de eventos trombóticos tanto para los coxibs como para los AINEs tradicionales. El efecto protrombótico podría deberse a la inhibición de la COX-2 endotelial, con disminución de la prostaciclina y un incremento relativo de los niveles del tromboxano plaquetario. Los coxibs y el diclofenac, 150 mg/día, aumentarían el riesgo de eventos vasculares mayores en más de un tercio. El ibuprofeno 2400 mg/día aumentaría levemente el riesgo de eventos coronarios. El naproxeno 1000 mg/día no incrementaría el riesgo de eventos vasculares. Además, el ibuprofeno y el naproxeno tienen el potencial del disminuir el efecto cardioprotector de bajas dosis de aspirina. El naproxeno (≤ 1000 mg/día) y el ibuprofeno a bajas dosis (≤ 1200 mg/día) deberían considerarse los AINEs con el mejor perfil de seguridad cardiovascular. Las decisiones terapéuticas deben basarse en una adecuada evaluación del riesgo del paciente, utilizando los AINEs más seguros, a las menores dosis efectivas, por el menor tiempo posible que permita el control de los síntomas, restringiendo su utilización en enfermos con aumento del riesgo cardiovascular.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) are among the most commonly used drugs in clinical practice. They block cyclooxygenases (COX) enzymes, but the degree of inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 varies between them. In general, NSAIDs are classified in selective COX-2 or coxibs and non-selective or traditional NSAIDs. Both the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as the cardiovascular adverse effects, depend on the COX-2 inhibition. This paper reviews the available evidence of the increased risk of thrombotic events for both coxibs and traditional NSAID. The prothrombotic effect could be due to the inhibition of endothelial COX-2, with a decrease in production of prostacyclin and a relative increase in platelet thromboxane levels. Coxibs and diclofenac 150 mg/day seem to increase the risk of major vascular events by more than a third. Ibuprofen 2400 mg/day could slightly increase the risk of coronary events. Naproxen 1000 mg/day apparently does not increase the risk of vascular events. Besides ibuprofen and naproxen have the potential to decrease the cardioprotective effect of low doses of aspirin. Naproxen (≤ 1000 mg/day) and low doses of ibuprofen (≤ 1200 mg/day) are considered to have the most favorable thrombotic cardiovascular safety profiles of all NSAIDs. Therapeutic decisions should be based on an assessment of a person´s individual risk factors, using the safest NSAIDs, at the lowest effective doses, for the shortest duration necessary to control symptoms, restricting their use in patients with increased cardiovascular risk.

Comparison of the postoperative analgesic effects of naproxen sodium and naproxen sodium-codeine phosphate for arthroscopic meniscus surgery / Comparação dos efeitos analgésicos pós-operatórios de naproxeno sódico e naproxeno sódico-fosfato de codeína em artroscopia de menisco

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently used to control arthroscopic pain. Addition of oral effective opioid "codeine" to NSAIDs may be more effective and decrease parenteral opioid consumption in the postoperative period. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and side effects of naproxen sodium and a new preparation naproxen sodium-codeine phosphate when administered preemptively for arthroscopic meniscectomy. METHODS: Sixty-one patients were randomized into two groups to receive either oral naproxen sodium (Group N) or naproxen sodium-codeine phosphate (Group NC) before surgery. The surgery was carried out under general anesthesia. Intravenous meperidine was initiated by patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for all patients. The primary outcome measure was pain score at the first postoperative hour assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Sedation assessed by Ramsey Sedation Scale, first demand time of PCA, postoperative meperidine consumption, side effects and hemodynamic data were also recorded. RESULTS: The groups were demographically comparable. Median VAS scores both at rest and on movement were significantly lower in Group NC compared with Group N, except 18th hour on movement (p < 0.05). The median time to the first demand of PCA was shorter in Group N compared with Group NC (p < 0.001). Meperidine consumption was higher in Group N compared with Group NC (p < 0.001). There was no difference between groups with respect to side effects (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of naproxen sodium-codeine phosphate provided more effective analgesia than naproxen sodium and did not increase side effects.

RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Os anti-inflamatórios não esteroides (AINEs) são frequentemente usados para controlar a dor após artroscopia. A adição de um opiáceo oral eficaz (codeína) aos AINEs pode ser mais efetiva e diminuir o consumo de opiáceo parenteral no pós-operatório. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a eficácia e os efeitos colaterais de naproxeno sódico e uma nova preparação, naproxeno sódico-fosfato de codeína, quando administrados preventivamente para meniscectomia artroscópica. MÉTODOS: Foram randomicamente divididos em dois grupos 61 pacientes para receber naproxeno sódico por via oral (Grupo N) ou naproxeno sódico-fosfato de codeína (Grupo NC) antes da cirurgia. A cirurgia foi feita sob anestesia geral. Meperidina intravenosa foi iniciada por meio de analgesia controlada pelo paciente (ACP) para todos os pacientes. O desfecho primário foi o escore de dor na primeira hora de pós-operatório, avaliada com a escala visual snalógica (EVA). A sedação foi avaliada com a escala de sedação de Ramsey. A primeira demanda de ACP, o consumo de meperidina no pós-operatório, os efeitos colaterais e os dados hemodinâmicos também foram registrados. RESULTADOS: Os grupos foram demograficamente comparáveis. As medianas dos escores EVA tanto em repouso quanto em movimento foram significativamente menores no Grupo NC comparado com o Grupo N; exceto para movimento na avaliação de 18 horas (p < 0,05). A mediana do tempo até a primeira demanda de ACP foi menor no Grupo N em comparação com o Grupo NC (p < 0,001). O consumo de meperidina foi maior no Grupo N em comparação com o Grupo NC (p < 0,001). Não houve diferença entre os grupos em relação aos efeitos colaterais (p > 0,05). CONCLUSÕES: A combinação de naproxeno sódico-fosfato de codeína forneceu analgesia mais efetiva que naproxeno sódico, sem aumentar os efeitos colaterais.

fatal case of cutaneous adverse drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis associated with severe rhabdomyolysis

Toxic epidermal necrolysis represents an immunologic reaction to a foreign antigen and is most often caused by drugs. Atorvastatin, a blood cholesterol-lowering agent, is a recognized cause of rhabdomyolysis; while naproxen, a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is a known cause of photo-induced skin lesions. We report the first fatal case of drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis associated with severe muscle necrosis due to the use of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and a statin with very high levels of creatine phosphokinase leading to acute kidney injury, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and complete skin necrosis leading to death

The Effects of Etodolac, Nimesulid and Naproxen Sodium on the Frequency of Sister Chromatid Exchange after Enclused Third Molars Surgery

PURPOSE: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are frequently used in oral surgical procedures in dentistry. The evaluation of the frequency of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) is accepted as a reliable cytogenetic method to assess the genotoxic effects of environmental factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, the genotoxic effects of various NSAIDs were assessed in 30 patients to who they were administered following encluosed third molar surgery using SCE analysis before and after the operation. The frequency of SCE was evaluated before the operation and after 3 days of etodolac, nimesulid and naproxen use. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of SCE between the preoperative and postoperative states in patients given etodolac, nimesulid or naproxen sodium. CONCLUSION: Short term use of selective and non-selective NSAIDs was not associated with a significant genotoxic effect that could be detected using the SCE method in peripheric lymphocytes.

Opçöes para a utilizaçåo dos antiinflamatórios nåo-esteróides no manejo da psoríase artropática / The management of arthropatic psoriasis with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory

Os antiinflamatórios nåo-esteróides såo fármacos nåo-esteroidais que inibem a via da ciclooxigenase no metabolismo do ácido aracdônio, suprimindo a síntese das prostaglandinas. Algumas destas drogas exacerbam as lesöes cutâneas da psoríase (indometacina, ácido acetilsalicílico). Outros antiinflamatórios nåo-esteróides apresentam uma boa açåo farmacológica sem exacerbarem o quadro dermatológico da moléstia (naproxeno, ibuprofeno e fenilbutazona). Estas drogas proporcionaråo novas opçöes na terapêutica da psoríase artropática. Os autores relatam sua experiência no manejo da psoríase artropática com os antiinflamatórios nåo-esteróides

Agentes antiinflamatórios näo-hormonais e a funçäo labiríntica / Anti-inflamatory agents non-hormone and the function labirints

O uso do nimesulide näo provocou a ocorrência de sintomas e sinais de disfunçäo vestibular em pacientes com doenças reumáticas, ao contrário do que se verificou com o uso de diclofenaco sódico, naproxeno sódico e ibuprofeno; a diferença entre diclofenaco e nimesulide, quanto à ocorrência de sintomas e sinais vestibulares neste grupo de pacientes, foi estatisticamente significante

Insuficiencia renal causada por medicamentos antiinflamatorios no esteroideos / Renal failure caused by non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs

El uso de fármacos antiinflamatorios no esteroideos, sin indicación precisa, asociado a otros medicamentos como el acetoaminofén o los aminoglucósidos, se ha extendido a la población de niños muy pequeños. Informamos los casos de seis lactantes que recibieron naproxén o diclofenac con acetoaminofén y desarrollaron insuficiencia renal. Hay informes sobre nefropatía por analgésicos en adultos; son pocos en niños. Tres pacientes se recuperaron completamente, dos tienen lesión renal moderada y uno falleció con insuficiencia renal terminal.

Ulceras esofágicas producidas por medicamentos: informe de un paciente / Esophageal ulcers produced by drugs: report of a patient

Se describe un caso de un paciente quien despúes de la ingesta de varios comprimidos de naproxen, un antiinflamatorio no esteroide, presentó disfagia y dolor retoesternal muy severo, con irradiación a la espalda. La esofagoscopía mostró una zona de ulceraciones superficiales y edema a unos 28 cm de la arcada dentaria. La suspensión de la medicación y la administración de gel de hidróxido de aluminio y metoclopramida permitieron la rápida solución del problema. En la literatura se encuentran varias comunicaciones incluyendo hasta el momento unos 26 medicamentos potencialmente peligrosos para la mucosa esofágica. Se discuten los posibles mecanismos de producción de este tipo de lesiones