Fenoprofen

Generic Name: fenoprofen (FEN-oh-PROE-fen)
Brand Name: Generic only. No brands available.

Overview
Fenoprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It may cause an increased risk of serious and sometimes fatal heart and blood vessel problems (eg, heart attack, stroke). The risk may be greater if you already have heart problems or if you take fenoprofen for a long time. Do not use fenoprofen right before or after bypass heart surgery.
Fenoprofen may cause an increased risk of serious and sometimes fatal stomach ulcers and bleeding. Elderly patients may be at greater risk. This may occur without warning signs.

Use For

Treating rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or mild to moderate pain. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Fenoprofen is an NSAID. Exactly how it works is not known. It may block certain substances in the body that are linked to inflammation. NSAIDs treat the symptoms of pain and inflammation. They do not treat the disease that causes those symptoms.

Do Not Use If

• you are allergic to any ingredient in fenoprofen
• you have had a severe allergic reaction (eg, severe rash, hives, trouble breathing, growths in the nose, dizziness) to aspirin or an NSAID (eg, ibuprofen, celecoxib)
• you have recently had or will be having bypass heart surgery
• you have severe kidney problems
• you are in the last 3 months of pregnancy

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before Use

Some medical conditions may interact with fenoprofen. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal product, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of kidney or liver disease, diabetes, or stomach or bowel problems (eg, bleeding, perforation, ulcers)
• if you have a history of swelling or fluid buildup, asthma, growths in the nose (nasal polyps), or mouth inflammation
• if you have high blood pressure, blood disorders, bleeding or clotting problems, heart problems (eg, heart failure), or blood vessel disease, or if you are at risk for any of these diseases
• if you have hearing problems, poor health, dehydration or low fluid volume, or low blood sodium levels, you drink alcohol, or you have a history of alcohol abuse

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with fenoprofen. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), aspirin, corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), heparin, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (eg, fluoxetine) because risk of stomach bleeding may be increased
• Probenecid because it may increase the risk of fenoprofen's side effects
• Phenobarbital because it may decrease fenoprofen's effectiveness
• Cyclosporine, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), lithium, methotrexate, quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin), sulfonamides (eg, sulfamethoxazole), or sulfonylureas (eg, glipizide) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by fenoprofen
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (eg, enalapril) or diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide) because their effectiveness may be decreased by fenoprofen

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if fenoprofen may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Osteoarthritis

300 to 600 mg orally 3 to 4 times a day.

Usual Adult Dose for Rheumatoid Arthritis

300 to 600 mg orally 3 to 4 times a day.

Usual Adult Dose for Pain

200 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours as needed.

Usual Adult Dose for Acute Gout

800 mg orally one time. This should be followed by 400 to 800 mg orally every 6 to 8 hours until the acute gouty attack has resolved, usually 2 to 3 days.

Renal Dose Adjustments

Fenoprofen is contraindicated in patients with significantly impaired renal function.

Liver Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Dose Adjustments

Titrate dose based on patient response to and tolerance of fenoprofen. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis generally seem to require larger doses than do those with osteoarthritis. The smallest dose that yields acceptable control should be employed.

Precautions

Safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric patients (less than 18 years of age).