Drug Name

Ansaid (Flurbiprofen)

Drug Uses

Ansaid is used for the treatment of inflammation and pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, as well as soft tissue injuries, such as tendinitis and bursitis.

How Taken

Take this medicine with a full glass of water. This medicine may be taken with food if it upsets your stomach. Taking it with food may not decrease the risk of stomach or bowel problems (such as bleeding or ulcers) that may occur while taking this medicine. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you experience persistent stomach upset.

Drug Class and Mechanism

Ansaid is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) effective in treating fever, pain, and inflammation in the body. As a group, NSAIDs are non-narcotic relievers of mild to moderate pain of many causes, including injury, menstrual cramps, arthritis, and other musculoskeletal conditions. Since the response to different NSAIDs varies from patient to patient, it is not unusual for a doctor to try different NSAIDs for any given condition.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Storage

Store at room temperature, sealed container, avoid moisture.

Warnings/Precautions

Ansaid should be avoided by patients with a history of asthma attacks, hives, or other allergic reactions to aspirin or other NSAIDs. Rare but severe allergic reactions have been reported in such individuals. It also should be avoided by patients with peptic ulcer disease or poor kidney function, since this medication can aggravate both conditions. Ansaid is generally used with caution in patients taking blood thinning medications (anticoagulants), such as warfarin (Coumadin), because of increased risk of bleeding. Patients taking lithium can develop toxic blood lithium levels. Patients also taking cyclosporine (Sandimmune) can develop kidney toxicity. Use in children has not been adequately studied. Ansaid is not habit forming. NSAIDs should be discontinued prior to elective surgery because of a mild interference with clotting that is characteristic of this group of medicines. Ansaid is best discontinued at least three days in advance of the procedure. Persons who have more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day are at increased risk of developing stomach ulcers when taking ansaid or other NSAIDs. This medicine increases your risk of serious stomach or bowel problems (such as ulcers and bleeding). This risk is increased if you are elderly or are in poor health, if you have a history of smoking or drinking alcohol, if you take corticosteroid medicines (such as prednisone) or "blood thinners" (such as warfarin), or if you take this medicine for a long period of time. This medicine may also increase your risk for certain serious heart and blood vessel problems (such as heart attack and stroke). Take this medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor, at the lowest possible dose for the shortest time needed. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for further information. If you experience difficulty breathing; tightness of chest; swelling of eyelids, face, or lips; or if you develop a rash or hives, tell your doctor immediately. Do not take any more of this medicine unless your doctor tells you to do so. Laboratory and/or medical tests, including blood counts, liver function tests, and kidney function tests, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects, especially if you are taking this medicine for a long period of time. Keep all doctor and laboratory appointments while you are taking this medicine. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to this medicine. Using this medicine alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. Before you begin taking any new medicine, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any medicine that contains aspirin or other non-prescription pain relievers. Caution is advised when using this medicine in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine, especially the risk of stomach or bowel effects (such as bleeding or ulcers), or kidney effects. For women: if you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. This medicine should not be used during late pregnancy because it has been shown to cause harm to the human fetus. This medicine is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine.

Possible Side Effects

Most patients benefit from ansaid and other NSAIDs with few side effects. However, serious side effects can occur, and generally tend to be dose related. Therefore, it is often desirable to use the lowest effective dose to minimize side effects. The most common side effects of ansaid involve the gastrointestinal system. It can cause ulcerations, abdominal burning, pain, cramping, nausea, gastritis, and even serious gastrointestinal bleeding and liver toxicity. Sometimes, stomach ulceration and bleeding can occur without any abdominal pain. Black tarry stools, weakness, and dizziness upon standing may be the only signs of internal bleeding. Rash, kidney impairment, ringing in the ears, and lightheadedness can also occur.

More Information

Do not share this medicine with others for whom it was not prescribed. Do not use this medicine for other health conditions.

If you will be taking this medicine for an extended period of time, be sure to obtain necessary refills before your supply runs out.