Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: CHILDREN S ELIXSURE versus DUEXIS.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: CHILDREN S ELIXSURE versus DUEXIS.
CHILDREN'S ELIXSURE vs DUEXIS
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Acetaminophen: weakly inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) in central nervous system, reduces prostaglandin synthesis, elevates pain threshold, and acts on hypothalamic heat-regulating center to lower body temperature. Chlorpheniramine: first-generation antihistamine; competitively antagonizes histamine at H1 receptors, reducing allergic symptoms. Dextromethorphan: noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist and sigma-1 agonist; suppresses cough by elevating threshold in medullary cough center. Pseudoephedrine: indirectly acting sympathomimetic; releases norepinephrine from presynaptic terminals, causing vasoconstriction and nasal decongestion.
DUEXIS is a combination of ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) enzymes, reducing prostaglandin synthesis, and famotidine, a histamine H2-receptor antagonist that decreases gastric acid secretion. Famotidine mitigates the risk of NSAID-induced gastric ulcers.
No established adult dose; product is specifically indicated for pediatric use only. Not recommended for adults.
One tablet (800 mg ibuprofen/26.6 mg famotidine) orally three times daily.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal half-life: 4–6 hours in children with normal hepatic function; prolonged to >8 hours in hepatic impairment or overdose.
Ibuprofen: 2-4 hours (terminal); requires every 6-8 hour dosing. Famotidine: 2.5-3.5 hours (normal renal function); prolonged to 20 hours or more in severe renal impairment (CrCl < 30 mL/min).
Renal elimination: ~90% as unchanged drug and active metabolite paracetamol glucuronide/sulfate conjugates; biliary/fecal: <5%.
Ibuprofen: ~1% unchanged in urine, 14% as conjugated metabolites, remainder as oxidative metabolites; <1% excreted in feces. Famotidine: 65-70% unchanged in urine, 30-35% metabolized hepatic; <10% fecal.
Category C
Category C
NSAID
NSAID/H2 Antagonist Combination