Fenoprofen tablets for pain and inflammation

About fenoprofen

Anti-inflammatoriska smärtstillande medel like fenoprofen are also called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or sometimes just 'anti-inflammatories'. Fenoprofen is used to treat painful rheumatic conditions such as arthritis, and sprains and strains. Det lindrar smärta och minskar inflammation.

Fenoprofen works by blocking the effect of natural chemicals called cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzymes. These enzymes help to make other chemicals in the body, called prostaglandins. Some prostaglandins are produced at sites of injury or damage, and cause pain and inflammation. By blocking the effect of COX enzymes, fewer prostaglandins are produced, which means pain and inflammation are eased.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking fenoprofen, it is important that your doctor knows:

• Om du någonsin har haft ett magsår eller duodenalsår, eller om du har en inflammatorisk tarmsjukdom som Crohns sjukdom eller ulcerös kolit.

• Om du har astma eller någon annan allergisk sjukdom.

• Om du är gravid, försöker bli gravid eller ammar.

• Om du har några problem med hur din lever fungerar, eller om du har några problem med hur dina njurar fungerar.

• If you have a heart condition or a problem with your blood vessels or circulation.

• Om du har högt blodtryck.

• If you have any blood clotting problems.

• Om du har högt blodsocker eller kolesterolnivåer.

• Om du har en bindvävssjukdom som systemisk lupus erythematosus. Detta är ett inflammatoriskt tillstånd som också kallas lupus eller SLE.

• Om du tar några andra läkemedel. Detta inkluderar alla läkemedel du tar som finns att köpa utan recept, samt växtbaserade och komplementära läkemedel.

• Om du någonsin har haft en allergisk reaktion mot någon annan NSAID (såsom aspirin, ibuprofen, diklofenak och indometacin), eller mot något annat läkemedel.

• Before you start taking fenoprofen, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about the tablets and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from taking them.

• Take fenoprofen exactly as your doctor tells you to. The usual dose for adults is 300-600 mg (one or two tablets), three or four times daily.

• Take fenoprofen with food. This will help to protect your stomach from side-effects such as indigestion.

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless your next dose is due. If your next dose is due then take the dose which is due but leave out the forgotten one. Do not take two doses together to make up for a missed dose.

• Your doctor will try to prescribe you the lowest dose for the shortest time to reduce the risk of side-effects. If you need to take fenoprofen for a long time, your doctor may also want to prescribe another medicine for you to take along with fenoprofen to protect your stomach from irritation.

• Try to keep any regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your doctor can check on your progress, and is especially important if you are taking fenoprofen for a long-term condition.

• If you have asthma, symptoms such as wheeze or breathlessness can be made worse by anti-inflammatories such as fenoprofen. If this happens to you, you should stop taking fenoprofen and see your doctor as soon as possible.

• Det är känt att det finns en liten ökad risk för hjärt- och kärlproblem hos personer som tar vissa antiinflammatoriska smärtstillande medel under lång tid. Din läkare kommer att förklara detta för dig och kommer att ordinera den lägsta lämpliga dosen för den kortaste tiden för att minska risken. Ta inte mer än den rekommenderade dosen.

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take. This is because you should not take fenoprofen with any other anti-inflammatory painkiller, some of which are available in cold and flu remedies which can be bought 'over the counter'.

• Om du ska genomgå en operation eller tandbehandling, informera den som utför behandlingen om vilka mediciner du tar.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the more common ones associated with fenoprofen. The best place to find a full list of the side-effects which can be associated with your medicine, is from the manufacturer's printed information leaflet supplied with the medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Viktigt: if you experience any of the following less frequent but possibly serious symptoms, stop taking fenoprofen and contact your doctor for advice straightaway:

• Om du har några andningssvårigheter som väsande andning eller andfåddhet.

• Om du har några tecken på en allergisk reaktion, såsom svullnad runt munnen eller ansiktet, eller ett allvarligt kliande hudutslag.

• If you pass blood or black stools, bring up (vomit) blood, or have severe stomach pains.

Om du upplever några andra symtom som du tror kan bero på medicinen, tala med din läkare eller apotekare för vidare råd.

• Förvara alla läkemedel utom räckhåll och synhåll för barn.

• Förvara på en sval, torr plats, borta från direkt värme och ljus.