Diclofenac: profile and news

Safety of steroids for small babies questioned  06 Mar 2006
...therapy for hypotension. The most commonly used steroid for hypotension was hydrocortisone, followed by dexamethasone. When compared ... - Reuters.uk,

Dexamethasone Induces Connective Tissue Growth Factor Expression ...  Feb 28, 2006
In addition, the glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) increased CTGF mRNA levels in the kidneys of C57B6 but not SJL mice and produced intermediate CTGF mRNA ... - Am J Pathology (subscription)

Updated Results: Velcade® Improves Survival Over Dexamethasone in ...  Feb 8, 2006
...with the Assessment of Proteosome Inhibition for Extending Remissions (APEX) randomized trial of Velcade (bortezomib) versus dexamethasone have reported that ... - Cancer Consultants (press release),

Does Dexamethasone Improve the Quality of Intravenous Regional ...  Feb 6, 2006
We investigated the anesthetic and analgesic effectiveness of adding dexamethasone to lidocaine for IV regional anesthesia (IVRA). ... - Anesthesia & Analgesia (subscription),

Effects of Dexamethasone on Cerebral Perfusion and Water Diffusion ...  Feb 16, 2006
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The mechanisms by which the glucocorticoid dexamethasone produces its therapeutic action in patients with intracranial tumors still ... - Am J Neuroradiology (subscription)

FDA Grants Priority Review for REVLIMID(R) sNDA for Treatment of ...  Mar 3, 2006
The Company is seeking approval to market REVLIMID in combination with dexamethasone as a proposed indication for the treatment of multiple myeloma patients ... - International News Service,

Celgene's Revlimid gets priority review  Mar 3, 2006
Celgene's supplemental new drug application (sNDA) seeks approval to use Revlimid in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of multiple-myeloma ... - United Press International

Celgene gets Revlimid priority review  Mar 3, 2006
The new application hopes to use Revlimid along with the steroid dexamethasone to treat multiple myeloma in patients who have received at least one prior ... - BusinessWeek

Chemotherapy for Immune Disorder Suggested as Avian Flu Treatment  Mar 3, 2006
90%, the investigators noted. The so-called HLH-94 protocol begins with etoposide and dexamethasone up front. A revised protocol ... - CNN

Business briefs  Mar 4, 2006
Celgene is seeking clearance to market the drug in combination with dexamethasone, a treatment for certain types of cancer, the Summit-based company said. ... - NorthJersey.com,

Doxil® in the VAD Regimen for Myeloma Confirmed Less Toxic Than ...  Feb 28, 2006
A US multicenter trial has reported that a regimen of Doxil (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin), vincristine and dexamethasone is associated with less toxicity ... - Cancer Consultants (press release),

Etoposide-Based Therapy May Reduce Mortality From Bird Flu  Mar 1, 2006
...lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), researchers theorize that severe cases of human H5N1 infection may respond to HLH therapy -- dexamethasone plus etoposide -- along ... - Medscape (subscription)

Celgene’s New Cancer Drug Gets Priority Handling  Mar 3, 2006
Celgene is looking to market the drug in combination with dexamethasone, a steroid that breaks down fat, to help patients with multiple myeloma who have ... - Business New Jersey (subscription),

PHARMION CORPORATION ANNOUNCES 2005 FINANCIAL  Feb 22, 2006
...weeks (p=0.000065), plus progression-free survival of 55.7 weeks versus 24.3 weeks (p=0.0003) in patients receiving thalidomide plus dexamethasone compared to ... - ITNews,

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Commences Phase 2, Multi-Center ...  Mar 2, 2006
DFCI -led phase I/II study evaluating the safety and efficacy of KRX-0401 and bortezomib (Velcade(R)) therapy with or without dexamethasone for patients with ... - PharmaLive.com (press release),

Doxil® Associated with Fewer Heart Side Effects than Adriamycin® ...  Feb 14, 2006
One of the most commonly used regimens for treatment of patients with multiple myeloma is VAD (Oncovin® [vincristine], doxorubicin, and dexamethasone). ... - Cancer Consultants (press release),

Melatonin for Tinnitus and Steroids to Ease Tonsillectomy Pain  Feb 22, 2006
...of Randomized Controlled Trials.� A University of Cincinnati study finds that providing a patient a single, intraoperative dose of dexamethasone may reduce ... - Newswise (press release)

Karnataka strategy to fight JE in state  Feb 18, 2006
Dr Chandra said the health department would ensure availability of basic drugs like paracetamol, dexamethasone and Menitol at PHCs and CHCs and the health ... - Hindustan Times,

STEWARDS INQUIRY - ALEX DOUGLAS  Feb 16, 2006
Services Ltd (RASL) that the Alex Douglas-trained Infinite Grace had returned an irregularity to the prohibited substance Dexamethasone, following its winning ... - Harnesslink,

Celtic Pharma and NTI initiate trial of Xerecept  Feb 8, 2006
This second study will compare the treatment of dexamethasone with Xerecept in patients already on low-dose steroid whose dose must be escalated to treat their ... - Pharmaceutical Business Review

Skeletal Muscle Glucose Transporter Protein Responses to Antenatal ...  Feb 14, 2006
We investigated the effects of maternal antenatal dexamethasone (Dex) treatment given as a single course (4 doses) or multiple courses (20 doses) on fetal ... - Journal of Endocrinology

Differential expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors ...  Feb 17, 2006
PCNA) in rat adrenals. Male Wistar rats were treated with dexamethasone (Dex) to inhibit endogenous ACTH secretion. ACTH was then ... - Journal of Endocrinology

AAEP Convention 2001: The Pruritic (Itchy) Horse  Feb 17, 2006
Some people are concerned about an increased risk of founder with dexamethasone, but there is no black and white answer to this risk. ... - TheHorse.com,

Celtic Pharma and Neurobiological Technologies Announce Initiation ...  Feb 6, 2006
This second study, termed the Acute Trial, will compare the treatment of dexamethasone with XERECEPT in patients already on low dose steroid whose dose must be ... - PR Newswire (press release),

Nausea and Vomiting Significant Among Very Young Pediatric ...  Feb 17, 2006
...their parents. Antiemetic therapy consisted of Zofran® (ondansetron) with or without the steroid dexamethasone. Overall, younger ... - Cancer Consultants (press release),

Updated Results: Velcade® Improves Survival Over Dexamethasone in ...  Feb 8, 2006
...with the Assessment of Proteosome Inhibition for Extending Remissions (APEX) randomized trial of Velcade (bortezomib) versus dexamethasone have reported that ... - Cancer Consultants (press release),

Does Dexamethasone Improve the Quality of Intravenous Regional ...  Feb 6, 2006
We investigated the anesthetic and analgesic effectiveness of adding dexamethasone to lidocaine for IV regional anesthesia (IVRA). ... - Anesthesia & Analgesia (subscription),

Updated Results: Velcade® Improves Survival Over Dexamethasone in ...  Jan 30, 2006
...the 2005 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), single-agent Velcade® (bortezomib) improves survival over dexamethasone by approximately ... - Cancer Consultants (press release),

Addition of Thalomid® to Dexamethasone Improves Progression-Free ...  Jan 9, 2006
Results from a recent phase III trial demonstrate that the addition of Thalomid® (thalidomide) to the steroid dexamethasone improves progression-free survival ... - Cancer Consultants (press release),

FDA Approves EMEND(R) (aprepitant), in Combination with Other ...  Jan 11, 2006
The study compared a regimen including EMEND (EMEND in combination with ondansetron, a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, and dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, on day 1 ... - Business Wire (press release),

Celgene Corporation Reports Record Operating Performance for 2005  Jan 26, 2006
...of the multi-centered, randomized, placebo-controlled phase III study (MM-003) evaluating combination thalidomide plus dexamethasone versus dexamethasone alone ... - PR Newswire (press release),

Celtic Pharma and NTI initiate trial of Xerecept  Feb 8, 2006
This second study will compare the treatment of dexamethasone with Xerecept in patients already on low-dose steroid whose dose must be escalated to treat their ... - Pharmaceutical Business Review

Once-Condemned Drug May Control Blood Cancer  Jan 25, 2006
...at whether the controversial drug, thalidomide, would create a better treatment combination for multiple myeloma when taken with dexamethasone, a commonly used ... - ABC News

Pharmion Provides EU Registration Strategy Update for Thalidomide  Jan 10, 2006
...weeks (p=0.000065), plus progression-free survival of 55.7 weeks versus 24.3 weeks (p=0.0003) in patients receiving THALOMID(R) plus dexamethasone compared to ... - Nieuwsbank (persbericht),

Millennium Achieves 2005 Financial Guidance  Jan 26, 2006
...the Company presented an update on the phase III APEX trial, which continued to show that single-agent VELCADE is superior to high-dose dexamethasone with a ... - Biotech Intelligence (press release),

Aston Academy investigates macular oedema  Jan 26, 2006
Once implanted, Posurdex releases dexamethasone to the targeted disease site at the back of the eye. Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid ... - News-Medical.net,

Thalomid slows multiple myeloma, trial halted: Celgene  Jan 9, 2006
...of 75.7 weeks for multiple myeloma to progress in previously untreated patients given a combination of thalidomide and the steroid dexamethasone, compared with ... - Reuters.uk,

Celgene gives Thalomid to all patients in trial  Jan 9, 2006
The placebo-controlled study examined the use of thalidomide with dexamethasone and compared it with dexamethasone as a stand-alone therapy for previously ... - MarketWatch

Thalomid Slows Blood Cancer  Jan 9, 2006
...was stopped by an external monitoring committee after analysis showed multiple myelomas in patients taking Thalomid, and the steroid dexamethasone took about ... - Red Herring,

Celgene: Thalomid slows progression of multiple myeloma  Jan 10, 2006
10 Jan 2006, 17:56 GMT - Celegene has announced that it will halt a phase III trial of Thalomid plus dexamethasone in multiple myeloma after an analysis showed ... - Pharmaceutical Business Review

Breathe Deep  Jan 20, 2006
..."There are multiple ways to administer corticosteroids," notes Robinson, "but the cheapest way is to give dexamethasone by mouth." Consequently, MSU ... - TheHorse.com,

Celgene finishes Thalomid cancer study  Jan 9, 2006
In a 270-patient trial, those given Thalomid plus the synthetic steroid dexamethasone went an average of 75.7 weeks before their disease progressed, compared ... - BusinessWeek

Injections at SRNH found contaminated  Jan 12, 2006
...recently. Three 2 ml viols of dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection have been found containing fungus and dust particles. The ... - Hindustan Times,

Celgene Completes Thalmoid Trial On Cancer Patients  Jan 9, 2006
In Celgene's trial, 270 patients who were given Thalmoid in addition to the synthetic steroid dexamethasone went an average of 75.7 weeks before their disease ... - All Headline News

Children in Remission From ALL Likely To Develop Excess Body Fat  Jan 20, 2006
ALL. In addition, they compared the effects that prednisolone and dexamethasone have on the body composition of this population. ... - Cancerpage.com,

Steroid-resistant asthma: vitamin D3 can improve the ...  Jan 7, 2006
...that respond to steroids, T-cells taken from patients who are steroid resistant do not produce IL-10 when cultured in vitro with the steroid, Dexamethasone. ... - Xagena.it,

Thalomid Fuels Celgene's Rise  Jan 9, 2006
It took a median of 76 weeks for patients taking both Thalomid and dexamethasone, an existing chemotherapy, to see their diseases worsen. ... - Forbes

Thalomid Trial for Multiple Myeloma Achieves Primary Endpoint  Jan 10, 2006
Those who received Thalomid plus the synthetic steroid dexamethasone went an average of 75.7 weeks before their disease progressed, while patients who received ... - HealthCentral.com

Celgene halts trial after drug proves effective  Jan 9, 2006
The Thalomid trial involved 270 people. One group of patients was given Thalomid with another cancer treatment, the steroid dexamethasone. ... - Newark Star Ledger,

HIGH ALTITUDE ILLNESS By Larry Rigsby MD (also an Everest climber)  Jan 16, 2006
In patients allergic to Diamox dexamethasone in doses of 2 mg every six to eight hours can be used. Individuals using dexamethasone ... - Everest News,

US Oncology Research Network Presents Clinical Studies at ASCO ...  Jan 30, 2006
Patients were premedicated with dexamethasone 4 mg PO BID and received daily folic acid 350-1000 ug PO and Vitamin B12 1000 ug IM every nine weeks. ... - PharmaLive.com (press release),

Merck Gets FDA OK for Widened Use of Emend  Jan 11, 2006
Standard therapy was defined as ondansetron, a nausea treatment marketed as Zofran by GlaxoSmithKline PLC, and dexamethasone, a synthetic steroid. - MSN Money

Emend® Approved for Prevention of Moderate Chemotherapy ...  Jan 12, 2006
Patients were treated with either standard antinausea medication (ondansetron plus dexamethasone), or this combination plus Emend. ... - Cancer Consultants (press release),

Velcade® Promising as Initial Therapy for Multiple Myeloma  Jan 6, 2006
Patients were treated with Velcade plus the steroid dexamethasone (Decadron®) if they had not achieved anti-cancer responses with Velcade after 2 cycles. ... - Cancer Consultants (press release),

Allergic Reactions  Jan 12, 2006
...overzealous immune system. Atropine and dexamethasone ointment were applied topically to both eyes on a frequent basis. Although blind ... - TheHorse.com,

Insect Invaders  Jan 17, 2006
...diagnosis can be made. In horses, he says, the treatment of choice might involve antihistamines or dexamethasone. Often, Logan says ... - TheHorse.com,

Depletion of resting zone chondrocytes during growth plate ...  Jan 11, 2006
Consistent with this hypothesis, we found that dexamethasone treatment decreased the proliferation rate of rabbit resting zone chondrocytes and slowed the ... - Journal of Endocrinology

Breathe Easier!  Jan 22, 2006
...called corticosteroids. These drugs, such as dexamethasone, are not the types of steroids that enhance performance. Rather, they ... - TheHorse.com,

Genzyme Names New Head of Product Development for Campath and ...  Jan 13, 2006
Standard therapy was defined as ondansetron, a nausea treatment marketed as Zofran by GlaxoSmithKline PLC, and dexamethasone, a synthetic steroid. ... - Financial News USA (press release),

Aspirin: Concomitant administration of diclofenac and aspirin is not recommended because diclofenac is displaced from its binding sites during the concomitant administration of aspirin, resulting in lower plasma concentrations, peak plasma levels, and AUC values.

Anticoagulants: While studies have not shown diclofenac to interact with anticoagulants of the warfarin type, caution should be exercised, nonetheless, since interactions have been seen with other NSAIDs. Because prostaglandins play an important role in hemostasis, and NSAIDs affect platelet function as well, concurrent therapy with all NSAIDs, including diclofenac, and warfarin requires close monitoring of patients to be certain that no change in their anticoagulant dosage is required.

Digoxin, Methotrexate, Cyclosporine: Diclofenac, like other NSAIDs, may affect renal prostaglandins and increase the toxicity of certain drugs. Ingestion of diclofenac may increase serum concentrations of digoxin and methotrexate and increase cyclosporineís nephrotoxicity. Patients who begin taking diclofenac or who increase their diclofenac dose or any other NSAID while taking digoxin, methotrexate, or cyclosporine may develop toxicity characteristics for these drugs. They should be observed closely, particularly if renal function is impaired. In the case of digoxin, serum levels should be monitored.

Lithium: Diclofenac decreases lithium renal clearance and increases lithium plasma levels. In patients taking diclofenac and lithium concomitantly, lithium toxicity may develop.

Oral Hypoglycemics: Diclofenac does not alter glucose metabolism in normal subjects nor does it alter the effects of oral hypoglycemic agents. There are rare reports, however, from marketing experiences, of changes in effects of insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in the presence of diclofenac that necessitated changes in the doses of such agents. Both hypo- and hyperglycemic effects have been reported. A direct causal relationship has not been established, but physicians should consider the possibility that diclofenac may alter a diabetic patientís response to insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents.

Diuretics: Diclofenac and other NSAIDs can inhibit the activity of diuretics. Concomitant treatment with potassium-sparing diuretics may be associated with increased serum potassium levels.

Other Drugs: In small groups of patients (7-10/interaction study), the concomitant administration of azathioprine, gold, chloroquine, D-penicillamine, prednisolone, doxycycline, or digitoxin did not significantly affect the peak levels and AUC values of diclofenac. Phenobarbital toxicity has been reported to have occurred in a patient on chronic phenobarbital treatment following the initiation of diclofenac therapy.

Protein Binding

In vitro, diclofenac interferes minimally or not at all with the protein binding of salicylic acid (20% decrease in binding), tolbutamide, prednisolone (10% decrease in binding), or warfarin. Benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, oxacillin, chlortetracycline, doxycycline, cephalothin, erythromycin, and sulfamethoxazole have no influence in vitro on the protein binding of diclofenac in human serum.

Drug/Laboratory Test Interactions

Effect on Blood Coagulation: Diclofenac increases platelet aggregation time but does not affect bleeding time, plasma thrombin clotting time, plasma fibrinogen, or factors V and VII to XII. Statistically significant changes in prothrombin and partial thromboplastin times have been reported in normal volunteers. The mean changes were observed to be less than 1 second in both instances, however, and are unlikely to be clinically important. Diclofenac is a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, however, and all drugs that inhibit prostaglandin synthesis interfere with platelet function to some degree; therefore, patients who may be adversely affected by such an action should be carefully observed.