Welfena

Uses

Welfena is used

• For the treatment of sign and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis and other non-rheumatoid arthropathies,
• For the treatment of non-articular rheumatic conditions, such as frozen shoulder, bursitis, tendinitis, tenosynovitis and low back pain,
• For the treatment of soft tissue injuries such as sprain, strain and post operative pain
• For the treatment of dysmenorrhoea,
• For the treatment of dental pain.
• For the treatment of cold & fever.

Welfena is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), Common Cold, Cystic Fibrosis (CF), Fever, Gastric Ulcer, Gouty Arthritis, Headache, Insomnia, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), Menstrual Distress (Dysmenorrhea), Migraine, Mild pain, Nasal Congestion, Osteoarthritis (OA), Pain, Pain, Acute, Pain, Inflammatory, Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), Pericarditis, Primary Dysmenorrhoea, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Severe Pain, Sinus pressure, Mild to moderate pain, Minor aches and pains, Moderate Pain

How Welfena works

The exact mechanism of action of ibuprofen is unknown. However, ibuprofen is considered an NSAID and thus it is a non-selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, which is an enzyme involved in prostaglandin (mediators of pain and fever) and thromboxane (stimulators of blood clotting) synthesis via the arachidonic acid pathway.

Welfena is a non-selective COX inhibitor and hence, it inhibits the activity of both COX-1 and COX-2. The inhibition of COX-2 activity decreases the synthesis of prostaglandins involved in mediating inflammation, pain, fever, and swelling while the inhibition of COX-1 is thought to cause some of the side effects of ibuprofen including GI ulceration.

Dosage

Welfena dosage

Oral Administrations-

For Children:

• 20 mg per kg body weight daily in divided doses. In children weighing less than 30 kg the total daily dosage should not exceed 500 mg. If gastrointestinal disturbances occur Welfenashould be given with food or milk.
• 1-2 years: 1/2 tea spoonful (2.5 ml) 3-4 times daily;
• 3-7 years: 1 tea spoonful (5 ml) 3-4 times daily;
• 8-12 years: 2 tea spoonful (10 ml) 3-4 times daily. Welfenais not recommended for children under 1 year.

For adult:

• For arthritic pain: The dosage range is from 0.9 to 2.4 g per day. The usual dose is 400 mg, 3-4 times per day, preferably after food. The dose may be raised to a maximum of 2.4 g daily depending on the severity of symptom at the time of initiating drug therapy or as patients fail to respond. After a satisfactory response has been achieved the patients dose should be reviewed and adjusted as required and tapered gradually.
• For mild to moderate pain: 400 mg 6 hourly or as demanded by the condition.
• For dysmenorrhoea: 400 mg every 4 hours or as demanded by the condition.

Topical Administrations-

Pain and inflammation associated with musculoskeletal and joint disorder: As 5% cream, foam, gel, spray soln or 10% gel: Apply onto affected area.

Side Effects

Usually Welfena has a low incidence of side effects. The most frequent side effects are gastrointestinal disturbances. Peptic ulceration and gastrointestinal bleeding have occasionally been reported. Other side effects include headache, dizziness, nervousness, skin rash, pruritus, drowsiness, insomnia, blurred vision and other ocular reactions, hypersensitivity reaction, abnormal liver function test, impairment of renal function, agranulocytosis and thrombocytopenia.

Toxicity

The symptoms of overdose are presented in individuals that consumed more than 99 mg/kg. Most common symptoms of overdose are abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, vertigo, drowsiness (somnolence), dizziness and insomnia. Other symptoms of overdose include headache, loss of consciousness, tinnitus, CNS depression, convulsions and seizures. May rarely cause metabolic acidosis, abnormal hepatic function, hyperkalemia, renal failure, dyspnea, respiratory depression, coma, acute renal failure, and apnea (primarily in very young pediatric patients).

The reported LD50 of ibuprofen is of 636 mg/kg in rat, 740 mg/kg in mouse and 495 mg/kg in guinea pig.

Precaution

Welfena should be given with caution to patients with bleeding disorders, cardiovascular diseases, peptic ulceration or a history of such ulceration and in those who are receiving coumarin anticoagulants and in patients with renal or hepatic impairment.

Interaction

Increased risk of GI bleeding with warfarin, corticosteroids, SSRIs and aspirin. May reduce the natriuretic effects of diuretics. Reduced antihypertensive effect of ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists. May increase toxicity of lithium and methotrexate. Increased nephrotoxicity with ciclosporin and tacrolimus.

Food Interaction

• Avoid alcohol.
• Take with food. Food reduces irritation.

Welfena Alcohol interaction

[Moderate] GENERALLY AVOID:

The concurrent use of aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and ethanol may lead to gastrointestinal (GI) blood loss.

The mechanism may be due to a combined local effect as well as inhibition of prostaglandins leading to decreased integrity of the GI lining.

Patients should be counseled on this potential interaction and advised to refrain from alcohol consumption while taking aspirin or NSAIDs.

Welfena Hypertension interaction

[Major] Fluid retention and edema have been reported in association with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Therapy with NSAIDs should be administered cautiously in patients with preexisting fluid retention, hypertension, or a history of heart failure.

Blood pressure and cardiovascular status should be monitored closely during the initiation of NSAID treatment and throughout the course of therapy.

[Moderate] Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including topicals, can lead to new onset of hypertension or worsening of preexisting hypertension, either of which can contribute to the increased incidence of cardiovascular events.

NSAIDs should be used with caution in patients with hypertension.

Blood pressure should be monitored closely during the initiation of NSAID therapy and throughout the course of therapy.

Welfena Drug Interaction

Moderate: duloxetine, duloxetine, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acidsUnknown: diphenhydramine, diphenhydramine, pregabalin, pregabalin, acetaminophen, acetaminophen, cyanocobalamin, cyanocobalamin, ascorbic acid, ascorbic acid, cholecalciferol, cholecalciferol, alprazolam, alprazolam, cetirizine, cetirizine

Welfena Disease Interaction

Major: asthma, fluid retention, GI toxicity, rash, renal toxicities, thrombosisModerate: PKU, anemia, heart failure, hepatotoxicity, hyperkalemia, hypertension, platelet aggregation inhibition

Volume of Distribution

The apparent volume of distribution of ibuprofen is of 0.1 L/kg.

Elimination Route

It is very well absorbed orally and the peak serum concentration can be attained in 1 to 2 hours after extravascular administration. When ibuprofen is administered immediately after a meal there is a slight reduction in the absorption rate but there is no change in the extent of the absorption.

When orally administered, the absorption of ibuprofen in adults is very rapidly done in the upper GI tract. The average Cmax, Tmax and AUC ranges around 20 mcg/ml, 2 h and 70 mcg.h/ml. These parameters can vary depending on the enantiomer form, route, and dose of administration.

Half Life

The serum half-life of ibuprofen is 1.2-2 hours. In patients with a compromised liver function, the half-life can be prolonged to 3.1-3.4 hours.

Clearance

The clearance rate ranges between 3-13 L/h depending on the route of administration, enantiomer type and dosage.

Elimination Route

Welfena is rapidly metabolized and eliminated in the urine thus, this via accounts for more than 90% of the administered dose. It is completely eliminated in 24 hours after the last dose and almost all the administered dose goes through metabolism, representing about 99% of the eliminated dose. The biliary excretion of unchanged drug and active phase II metabolites represents 1% of the administered dose.

In summary, ibuprofen is excreted as metabolites or their conjugates. The elimination of ibuprofen is not impaired by old age or the presence of renal impairment.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Welfena is not recommended during pregnancy or for use in nursing mothers.

Contraindication

Welfena should not be given to patients with hypersensitivity to lbuprofen and to individuals who show nasal polyps, angioedema, bronchospastic reactivity to aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Welfena is contraindicated in patients with active or previous peptic ulceration & gastro-intestinal ulceration or bleeding.

Acute Overdose

Gastric lavage, correction of blood electrolytes (if necessary). There is no specific antidote for Welfena

Storage Condition

Keep in a cool & dry place. Keep out of the reach of children.

Innovators Monograph

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