Tolerability of ibuprofen and flurbiprofen in G-6-PD deficient subjects: in vitro study.

1 A 'GSH (reduced glutathione) stability test' which consists of incubating blood samples with acetylphenylhydrazine and other test drugs and measuring GSH level before and after incubation, was carried out. 2 Application of this test to the blood of eight normal volunteers and twelve known G-6-PD deficient persons demonstrated that acetylphenylhydrazine and primaquine produced a significant decrease in GSH levels in G-6-PD deficient red cells compared to the reduction seen in normal red cells incubated with these drugs. No such change was observed with aspirin, ibuprofen and flurbiprofen. 3 The results of this in vitro study seem to indicate that ibuprofen and flurbiprofen are relatively innocuous in G-6-PD deficient individuals.

Measurement of antipyretic activity of ibuprofen and paracetamol in children.

The antipyretic activity of ibuprofen (Brufen) and paracetamol (Crocin) was compared in 22 children with pyrexia who received either ibuprofen or paracetamol in syrup form. Both axillary and rectal temperatures were recorded prior to drug administration and 1/2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 12 hours after dosing. Analysis of the results in terms of rate of temperature decrease and degree and duration of decrease in temperature indicated that both drugs produced significant reduction in temperature and in the rate of temperature decrease. The maximum effect of the two drugs was similar. However, ibuprofen was more effective than paracetamol at 6 and 8 hours after administration, and its duration of action was longer. The associated antipyretic and antiinflammatory features of ibuprofen could provide an advantage in the control of exudative forms of upper respiratory tract infections.

Comparative effects of imipramine and dothiepin on salivary rate in normal volunteers.

1 Imipramine induced significant reduction in salivary rate compared to placebo in a cross-over, double-blind study of twelve normal volunteers. In contrast, there was no significant difference between the reduction in salivary rate induced by dothiepin and placebo. 2 Comparison of salivary rates showed no significant difference between the drugs in the initial and cross-over treatment periods. However, pooled observations from the initial and cross-over treatment periods indicated that imipramine produced a significantly greater reduction in salivary rate than dothiepin. 3 The results suggest that dothiepin would cause far less dryness of mouth compared to imipramine. This feature might ensure greater therapeutic compliance.

Estimation of gastro-intestinal blood loss in volunteers treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents.

In a double-blind study of 24 healthy volunteers treated with daily doses of 150 mg flurbiprofen, 600 mg phenylbutazone, 2.1 g aspirin, or placebo for 7 days, assessments were made of faecal blood loss before, during and after treatment. Measurementl body showed that aspirin produced the greatest degree of blood loss. Although both flurbiprofen and phenylbutazone produced greater blood loss than did placebo, the difference from pre-treatment values was not significant, and the levels returned almost to normal in the post-treatment period.

Endoscopic study of gastro-intestinal injury with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

A double-blind placebo controlled study was carried out in 24 healthy male volunteers to assess the nature and extent of any gastro-intestinal damage caused by the short-term administration of flurbiprofen (300 mg/day), aspirin (2.1 g/day), and phenylbutazone (600 mg/day). Fibre-optic endoscopic examinations were made before and after 7-days' treatment by 3 observers. The results showed that aspirin produced severe and extensive damage. The changes seen with phenylbutazone were less severe than with aspirin but more marked than with flurbiprofen. Flurbiprofen was found to have produced minor changes which tended to be localized. The histopathological findings correlated well with the endoscopic observations.

Steroid-sparing action of flurbiprofen: use of an additional parameter of joint scans with 99m technetium.

A double-blind placebo controlled trial was carried out in 14 steroid-dependent patients with rheumatoid arthritis to assess the effectiveness and steroid-sparing action of flurbiprofen over a 4-week period. During the first week, the patients' steroid dosage was stabilized at the minimum necessary to control symptoms. They were then treated with either 100 mg flurbiprofen or placebo 3-times daily for 3 weeks. Steroid dosage was initially reduced to 50% of the stabilized dose and reduced further if practicable, depending on therapeutic response. Clinical assessments were made, at weekly intervals, of pain, swelling, tenderness, erythema, range of movement, grip strength, walking time, and duration of morning stiffness. Joint scanning of 99mTc uptake was also measured before and after treatment in 11 patients. The results showed that whereas 3 out of 6 patients on placebo has distinct inflammatory flare-up, this did not occur in any of the 8 patients on flurbiprofen. Moreover, 3 of the flurbiprofen group showed improvement and a further reduction in steriod dosage was possible in 3 patients. Improvements in joint scans correlated well with the clinical findings in 6 of 11 patients.