Ketodol® Tablets: Price, Dosage and Side Effects
Ketodol® is a medicinal product distributed in Italy by the pharmaceutical company Alfasigma Spa whose active ingredient is ketoprofen. The tablets of this medicine are made using an external sucralfate-based coating, an active ingredient that has a protective action on the stomach, reducing the gastro-harmful effects of ketoprofen.
Ketodol® is a medicine that is used in the treatment of various painful manifestations:
- headache;
- osteo-articular pain;
- toothache;
- neuralgia;
- muscle aches;
- menstrual cramps.
How much?
Ketodol® can be purchased in pharmacies or parapharmacies in packs of 20 coated tablets at the price of 9.70 euros.
How does it work?
Ketodol® is a medicine that belongs to the category of non-steroidal anti -inflammatory and antirheumatic drugs NSAIDs. It has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity which inhibits the synthesis of prostaglandins.
The absorption of ketoprofen in the human organism is very high and reaches the maximum levels in the plasma within one hour. Elimination occurs primarily in the urine and partly in the faeces. It is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract in small quantities.
Posology and Method of Use
For the therapeutic treatment with Ketodol® we will have to comply with the following. In adults and children over 15 years of age: 1 tablet in a single dose or in repeated doses 2/3 times a day, against pain of greater intensity. The tablets should be swallowed with water on a full stomach.
In elderly patients it should be used from the minimum dose. Do not exceed the doses indicated for the dosage. The drug should not be taken for prolonged periods of time unless otherwise advised by your doctor.
Patients suffering from renal insufficiency and in case of hepatic insufficiency should follow the minimum dosage. Patients with renal or hepatic insufficiency should undergo periodic monitoring while taking the drug.
Overdose
In case of an overdose, symptoms such as headache, confusion, dizziness, loss of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, hypotension, cyanosis and respiratory depression may occur. In cases of a suspected overdose, it is advisable to notify your doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital.
Consistently following the directions of your doctor or pharmacist or the instructions on the package leaflet helps to avoid the risk of an overdose.
Can it be taken during pregnancy?
Concerning the use of this medicine during pregnancy and breastfeeding, seek medical advice.
The drug is contraindicated in pregnancy because it increases the risk of miscarriage and heart malformations and gastroschisis in the early stages of gestation and is also contraindicated in the second and third trimester of pregnancy.
During the third trimester, these types of drugs can expose the fetus to renal dysfunction, renal failure and cardiopulmonary toxicity. During delivery it can cause prolongation of bleeding time and inhibition of uterine contractions and also cause delay or prolongation of labour. The drug is also contraindicated during breastfeeding .
Contraindications
Ketodol® is contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity to ketoprofen and sucralfate or to drugs belonging to the same pharmaceutical category. Its use is also not recommended in the case of hypersensitivity to the excipients present in the drug.
The excipients present in the drug are:
- lactose;
- povidone;
- carboxymethyl starch;
- magnesium stearate;
- starch hurts more;
- baby powder;
- cochineal red (E120).
The drug is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity reactions, asthmatic attacks, bronchospasm, rhinitis and urticaria. The drug is contraindicated in children, in case of severe heart failure, in case of previous gastrointestinal bleeding, active peptic ulcer, ulceration, perforation, hepatic insufficiency or severe renal insufficiency.
The medicine is contraindicated if the patient is following intensive diuretic therapy, if he has digestive difficulties, in case of leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, if the patient suffers from gastritis, porphyria or cirrhosis of the liver. If the patient follows antibiotic treatments with tetracyclines, he should not take Ketodol® .
Interaction with other drugs
If the patient is taking, will be taking or has recently taken other medicines, he must warn the doctor before taking Ketodol®. The drug can interact with:
- other NSAIDs;
- salicylates;
- anticoagulants;
- lithium;
- antiplatelet agents;
- diuretics;
- antihypertensives;
- methotrexate;
- corticosteroids;
- ACE inhibitors;
- thrombolytics;
- probenecid;
- cyclosporine.
If the patient is taking, has taken or will take even just one of these drugs, he should contact his doctor because they could also cause interactions with serious consequences.
Side effects
Even Ketodol® , like all medicines, can cause side effects even if not everyone has them. Among the side effects Ketodol® can cause:
- stomach ulcers;
- palpitation;
- gastrointestinal bleeding;
- dyspnea;
- edema.
Common side effects , which may affect up to 1 in 10 people, include: nausea, heartburn, abdominal pain, vomiting, stomach pain.
Uncommon side effects that may affect up to 1 in 100 people include: headache, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, flatulence, diarrhoea, gastritis, itching, oedema.
Rare side effects which may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people include: pins and needles, anemia from bleeding, involuntary muscle movements, loss of balance, tinnitus, blurred vision, asthma, stomatitis, liver inflammation, elevated bilirubin, generalized weakness, increased transaminases, rash and weight gain.
Side effects with unknown frequency include: reduction in white blood cells, bone marrow failure, reduction in the number of platelets, insomnia, unfriendly mood, altered sense of taste, heart problems, hypertension, hypotension, bronchospasm, rhinitis, photosensitivity, worsening of gastrointestinal pathologies, hair loss, bullous eruptions, dermatitis, eczema, anuria, inflammation of the kidneys.
Side effects reduce their incidence with the use of the lowest dose and in short-term treatments.
In case of side effects not yet known and not reported in the package leaflet, it is advisable to consult your doctor or pharmacist to report side effects not yet known. They can also be reported using the appropriate form on the official website of the Italian Medicines Agency.
She defines herself as curious by nature. In 2006 she graduated with honors in Biotechnology at the Sapienza University of Rome. Between 2005 and 2009, she carried out a university internship and research activity in the field of tumor immunotherapy. She is a co-author of three scientific publications. Since 2007 you have associated your passion for science with that for the web, starting the management of the FitnessEquilibrium.com project.