Etoricoxib

Alcox tablet is indicated for the symptomatic relief of-
Osteoarthritis (OA)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Ankylosing spondylitis, and
The pain and signs of inflammation associated with acute gouty arthritis.
For the short-term treatment of moderate pain associated with dental surgery.

Dosage & Administration

Adult and adolescent over 16 years:
Osteoarthritis
: The recommended dose is 30 mg once daily. In some patients with insufficient relief from symptoms, an increased dose of 60 mg once daily may increase efficacy.
Rheumatoid arthritis
: The recommended dose is 90 mg once daily.
Ankylosing spondylitis
: The recommended dose is 90 mg once daily.
Acute gouty arthritis
: The recommended dose is 120 mg once daily. In clinical trials for acute gouty arthritis, Etoricoxib was given for 8 days.
Postoperative dental surgery pain
: The recommended dose is 90 mg once daily, limited to a maximum of 3 days.
Some patients may require additional postoperative analgesia. As the cardiovascular risks of Etoricoxib may increase with dose and duration of exposure, the shortest duration possible and the lowest effective daily dose should be used. The patient's need for symptomatic relief and response to therapy should be re-evaluated periodically, especially in patients with osteoarthritis.

Side-effects may include palpitation, fatigue, influenza-like symptoms, ecchymosis; less commonly dry mouth, taste disturbance, mouth ulcer, appetite and weight change, atrial fibrillation, transient ischaemic attack, chest pain, flushing, cough, dyspnoea, epistaxis, anxiety, mental acuity impaired, paraesthesia, electrolyte disturbance, myalgia and arthralgia; very rarely confusion and hallucinations.

Caution is advised with treatment of patients most at risk of developing a gastrointestinal complication with NSAIDs; the elderly, patients using any other NSAID or acetylsalicylic acid concomitantly or patients with a prior history of gastrointestinal disease, such as ulceration and Gl bleeding.
Patients with significant risk factors for cardiovascular events (e.g. hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking) should only be treated with Alcox after careful consideration.
Administration of Alcox may cause a reduction in prostaglandin formation and, secondarily, in renal blood flow, and thereby impair renal function. Monitoring of renal function in such patients should be considered.
Caution should be exercised in patients with a history of cardiac failure, left ventricular dysfunction, or hypertension and in patients with pre-existing edema from any other reason.
Any patients with symptoms and/or signs suggesting liver dysfunction, or in whom an abnormalliver function test has occurred, should be monitored. If signs of hepatic insufficiency occur, or if persistently abnormal liver function tests (three times the upper limit of normal) are detected, Alcox should be discontinued.
Alcox should be discontinued at the first appearance of skin rash, mucosal lesions, or any other sign of hypersensitivity.
Alcox may mask fever and other signs of inflammation. Caution should be exercised when co-administering Alcox with warfarin or other oral anticoagulants.

Etoricoxib is a potent, orally active cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) specific inhibitor within, and significantly above, the clinical dose range. Two isoforms of cyclooxygenase have been identified: cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). COX-1 is responsible for prostaglandin-mediated normal physiologic functions such as gastric cytoprotection and platelet aggregation. Inhibition of COX-1 by nonselective NSAIDs has been associated with gastric damage and inhibition of platelet aggregation. COX-2 has been shown to be primarily responsible for the synthesis of prostanoid mediators of pain, inflammation, and fever. Selective inhibition of COX-2 by etoricoxib (within the clinical dose range) decreases these clinical signs and symptoms with decreased potential for Gl toxicity and effects on platelet aggregation. Etoricoxib produced dose-dependent inhibition of COX-2 without inhibition of COX-1 at doses up to 150 mg daily. Etoricoxib did not inhibit gastric prostaglandin synthesis.