Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ARTHROTEC versus EC NAPROSYN.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ARTHROTEC versus EC NAPROSYN.
ARTHROTEC vs EC-NAPROSYN
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Arthrotec is a combination of diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) enzymes, reducing prostaglandin synthesis, and misoprostol, a synthetic prostaglandin E1 analog that protects the gastric mucosa by increasing mucus and bicarbonate secretion, enhancing mucosal blood flow, and promoting epithelial repair.
Naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that inhibits cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzymes, thereby reducing prostaglandin synthesis, which mediates inflammation, pain, and fever.
One tablet (diclofenac 50 mg / misoprostol 200 mcg) orally twice daily with food.
500-1000 mg orally twice daily; maximum 1500 mg/day.
None Documented
None Documented
Diclofenac: ~2 hours (range 1-4 h); misoprostol: 20-40 minutes (acid metabolite 1.5 h). No accumulation with repeated dosing.
Terminal elimination half-life 12-17 hours (mean 14 hours); prolonged in elderly and renal impairment
Renal: ~95% as metabolites (diclofenac: ~65% as glucuronide conjugates; misoprostol: ~80% as inactive metabolites). Biliary/fecal: <5%.
Renal (95%) as unchanged drug (10%) and conjugated metabolites (60%) and other metabolites (25%); biliary/fecal (5%)
Category C
Category C
NSAID
NSAID