Diflunisal is a
salicylic acid derivative with analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity. It was developed by
Merck Sharp & Dohme in 1971 after showing promise in a research project studying more potent chemical analogs of
aspirin.
[1] It was first sold under the brand name
Dolobid, marketed by
Merck & Co., but generic versions are now widely available. It is classed as a
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and is available in 250 mg and 500 mg tablets.
Contents
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1Mechanism of action
Mechanism of action[edit source]
Like all NSAIDs, diflunisal acts by inhibiting the production of
prostaglandins,
[2] hormones which are involved in inflammation and pain. Diflunisal also has an
antipyretic effect, but this is not a recommended use of the drug.
[3]
It has been found to inhibit
p300 and
CREB-binding protein (CBP), which are epigenetic regulators that control the levels of proteins that cause inflammation or are involved in cell growth.
[4]
Duration of effect[edit source]
Though diflunisal has an onset time of 1 hour, and maximum
analgesia at 2 to 3 hours, the plasma levels of diflunisal will not be steady until repeated doses are taken.
[3] The long plasma half-life is a distinctive feature of diflunisal in comparison to similar drugs. To increase the rate at which the diflunisal plasma levels become steady, a loading dose is usually used. It is primarily used to treat symptoms of
arthritis,
[5] and for acute pain following oral surgery, especially removal of
wisdom teeth.
[6]
Effectiveness of diflunisal is similar to other NSAIDs, but the duration of action is twelve hours or more. This means fewer doses per day are required for chronic administration. In acute use, it is popular in dentistry when a single dose after oral surgery can maintain analgesia until the patient is asleep that night.
Medical uses[edit source]
- Pain, mild to moderate
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Injury to tendons
- Inflammation
- ATTR amyloidosis
Amyloidosis[edit source]
Both diflunisal
[7][8] and several of its analogues
[9] have been shown to be inhibitors of
transthyretin-related hereditary amyloidosis, a disease which currently has few treatment options. Phase I trials have shown the drug to be well tolerated,
[10] with a small Phase II trial (double-blind, placebo-controlled, 130 patients for 2 years) in 2013 showing a reduced rate of disease progression and preserved quality of life.
[11] However a significantly larger Phase III trial would be needed to prove the drugs effectiveness for treating this condition.
Side effects[edit source]
Gastrointestinal[edit source]
The inhibition of prostaglandins has the effect of decreasing the protection given to the stomach from its own acid. Like all NSAIDS, this leads to an increased risk of stomach ulcers, and their complications, with long-term use. Elderly users of diflunisal are at greater risk for serious GI events.
- Increased risk of GI events including bleeding, ulceration, and stomach or intestine perforation.
- Abdominal pain or cramps
- Constipation
- Gas
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dyspepsia
Cardiovascular[edit source]
- Irregular heart beat
- Possible increased risk of serious and potentially fatal cardiovascular thrombotic events, MI, and stroke
- Risks may increase with duration of use and for cardiovascular disease history
Ear, nose, throat, and eye[edit source]
- Ringing in the ears
- Yellowing of eyes
Central nervous system[edit source]
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Somnolence
- Nervousness
Skin[edit source]
- Swelling of the feet, ankles, lower legs, and hands
- Yellowing of skin
- Rash
- Ecchymosis
Contraindications[edit source]
Cautions[edit source]
[
citation needed]
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Cardiac risk factors
- Hypertension
- Congestive heart failure
- Elderly or debilitated
- Impaired liver function
- Impaired kidney function
- Dehydration
- Fluid retention
- History of gastrointestinal bleeds/PUD
- Asthma
- Coagulopathy
- Smoker (tobacco use)
- Corticosteriod use
- Anticoagulant use
- Alcohol use
- Diuretic use
- ACE inhibitor use
Overdose[edit source]
Deaths that have occurred from diflunisal usually involved mixed drugs and or extremely high dosage. The oral
LD50 is 500 mg/kg. Symptoms of overdose include coma,
tachycardia, stupor, and vomiting. The lowest dose without the presence of other medicines which caused death was 15 grams. Mixed with other medicines, a death at 7.5 grams has also occurred. Diflunisal usually comes in 250 or 500 mg, making it relatively hard to overdose by accident.
References[edit source]
- Jump up^ Adams, S. S. (1999). "Ibuprofen, the propionics and NSAIDs: Personal reflections over four decades". Inflammopharmacology. 7 (3): 191–197. doi:10.1007/s10787-999-0002-3. PMID 17638090.
- Jump up^ Wallace, J. L. (1 October 2008). "Prostaglandins, NSAIDs, and Gastric Mucosal Protection: Why Doesn't the Stomach Digest Itself?". Physiological Reviews. 88 (4): 1547–1565. doi:10.1152/physrev.00004.2008. PMID 18923189.
- ^ Jump up to:a b Tempero, KF; Cirillo, VJ; Steelman, SL (Feb 1977). "Diflunisal: a review of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, drug interactions, and special tolerability studies in humans.". British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 4 Suppl 1: 31S–36S. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.1977.tb04511.x. PMID 328032.
- Jump up^ New Metabolic Pathway Reveals Aspirin-Like Compound’s Anti-Cancer Properties. June 2016
- Jump up^ Brogden, RN; Heel, RC; Pakes, GE; Speight, TM; Avery, GS (Feb 1980). "Diflunisal: a review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic use in pain and musculoskeletal strains and sprains and pain in osteoarthritis.". Drugs. 19 (2): 84–106. doi:10.2165/00003495-198019020-00002. PMID 6988202.
- Jump up^ Lawton, GM; Chapman, PJ (Aug 1993). "Diflunisal--a long-acting non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. A review of its pharmacology and effectiveness in management of postoperative dental pain.". Australian dental journal. 38 (4): 265–71. doi:10.1111/j.1834-7819.1993.tb05494.x. PMID 8216032.
- Jump up^ Tojo, Kana; Sekijima, Yoshiki; Kelly, Jeffery W.; Ikeda, Shu-ichi. "Diflunisal stabilizes familial amyloid polyneuropathy-associated transthyretin variant tetramers in serum against dissociation required for amyloidogenesis". Neuroscience Research. 56 (4): 441–449. doi:10.1016/j.neures.2006.08.014.
- Jump up^ Kingsbury, J. S.; Laue, T. M.; Klimtchuk, E. S.; Theberge, R.; Costello, C. E.; Connors, L. H. (6 March 2008). "The Modulation of Transthyretin Tetramer Stability by Cysteine 10 Adducts and the Drug Diflunisal: DIRECT ANALYSIS BY FLUORESCENCE-DETECTED ANALYTICAL ULTRACENTRIFUGATION". Journal of Biological Chemistry. 283 (18): 11887–11896. doi:10.1074/jbc.M709638200.
- Jump up^ Adamski-Werner, Sara L.; Palaninathan, Satheesh K.; Sacchettini, James C.; Kelly, Jeffery W. (January 2004). "Diflunisal Analogues Stabilize the Native State of Transthyretin. Potent Inhibition of Amyloidogenesis". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 47 (2): 355–374. doi:10.1021/jm030347n. PMID 14711308.
- Jump up^ Berk, John L.; Suhr, Ole B.; Sekijima, Yoshiki; Yamashita, Taro; Heneghan, Michael; Zeldenrust, Steven R.; Ando, Yukio; Ikeda, Shu-ichi; Gorevic, Peter; Merlini, Giampaolo; Kelly, Jeffrey W.; Skinner, Martha; Bisbee, Alice B.; Dyck, Peter J.; Obici, Laura. "The Diflunisal Trial: Study accrual and drug tolerance". Amyloid. 19 (S1): 37–38. doi:10.3109/13506129.2012.678509.
- Jump up^ Berk, JL; Suhr, OB; Obici, L; Sekijima, Y; Zeldenrust, SR; Yamashita, T; Heneghan, MA; Gorevic, PD; Litchy, WJ; Wiesman, JF; Nordh, E; Corato, M; Lozza, A; Cortese, A; Robinson-Papp, J; Colton, T; Rybin, DV; Bisbee, AB; Ando, Y; Ikeda, S; Seldin, DC; Merlini, G; Skinner, M; Kelly, JW; Dyck, PJ; Diflunisal Trial, Consortium (Dec 25, 2013). "Repurposing diflunisal for familial amyloid polyneuropathy: a randomized clinical trial.". JAMA. 310 (24): 2658–67. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.283815. PMID 24368466.
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