Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: INDOCIN SR versus NALFON.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: INDOCIN SR versus NALFON.
INDOCIN SR vs NALFON
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Indomethacin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) enzymes, reducing synthesis of prostaglandins, which mediate inflammation, pain, and fever. It also has a direct effect on renal blood flow and platelet aggregation.
Fenoprofen, a propionic acid derivative, nonselectively inhibits cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), reducing prostaglandin synthesis.
75 mg orally once daily, extended-release capsules.
NALFON (fenoprofen) 200-600 mg orally 3-4 times daily; maximum dose 3200 mg/day.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal half-life is 4.5 hours (range 2.6-11.2 hours) in young adults; prolonged in elderly (up to 16 hours) and in patients with renal or hepatic impairment.
3-4 hours (terminal half-life in healthy adults; prolonged in elderly and hepatic impairment).
Approximately 50% renal (as unchanged drug and metabolites, primarily glucuronide conjugates), 33% biliary/fecal. Indomethacin undergoes enterohepatic recirculation.
Renal: 90% (mostly as glucuronide conjugates and unchanged drug; unchanged drug ~1-5%); Fecal: <5%; Biliary: negligible.
Category C
Category C
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID)