Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DUEXIS versus NAPROSYN.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DUEXIS versus NAPROSYN.
DUEXIS vs NAPROSYN
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
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.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) enzymes, thereby reducing prostaglandin synthesis. This results in decreased inflammation, pain, and fever.
One tablet (800 mg ibuprofen/26.6 mg famotidine) orally three times daily.
250-500 mg orally twice daily; maximum 1500 mg/day. For extended-release: 750-1000 mg orally once daily.
None Documented
None Documented
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).
Terminal elimination half-life is 12-17 hours. This long half-life allows twice-daily dosing, but may lead to drug accumulation in elderly or renally impaired patients.
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.
Renal excretion of conjugated metabolites accounts for approximately 95% of a dose, with 1-2% as unchanged naproxen. Fecal excretion is minimal (<5%).
Category C
Category C
NSAID/H2 Antagonist Combination
NSAID