Introduction
Valdol is a pain relieving medicine. It alleviates pain, redness, and swelling in various conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.
Valdol can be taken with or without food. The dose and duration will depend on what you are taking it for and how well it helps your symptoms. You should keep taking the medicine even if you feel better until the doctor says it is okay to stop using the medicine.
The most common side effects of this medicine include flu-like symptoms, indigestion, abdominal pain, nausea, change in blood pressure, backache, and edema. If any of these side effects persist or get worse, you should let your doctor know. Your doctor may be able to suggest ways of preventing or reducing the symptoms.
Before using it, you should let your doctor know if you have a history of stomach ulcers, heart diseases, high blood pressure, and liver or kidney disease. Let your doctor also know about all the other medicines you are taking because they may affect, or be affected by, this medicine. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should consult their doctors before using the medicine.
Side effects of Valdol
Common
- Diarrhea
- Flatulence
- Flu-like symptoms
- Peripheral edema
- Stomach pain
How to use Valdol
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Valdol may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
How Valdol works
Valdol is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) called COX-2 inhibitors. It works by blocking the release of certain chemical messengers that are responsible for pain and inflammation (redness and swelling).
Indication
Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Dysmenorrhoea
Administration
May be taken with or without food.
Adult Dose
Oral
Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis
Adult: 10 mg once daily.
Dysmenorrhoea
Adult: 20 mg bid.
Hepatic Impairment
Child-Pugh scale 7-9: Initiate with caution. Child-Pugh scale >10: Avoid.
Renal Dose
Renal Impairment
CrCl Dosage
<30 Initiate with caution.
Contraindication
Hypersensitivity to sulfonamides, NSAIDs and other COX 2 inhibitors; asthma, urticaria; severe hepatic impairment; pregnancy (third trimester); lactation. Active GI bleed or ulceration, severe CHF, inflammatory bowel disease.
Mode of Action
Valdecoxib acts by selectively inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis primarily by blocking cyclooxygenase (COX-2) enzyme. It was withdrawn worldwide, following risk of serious skin reactions and cardiovascular side effects.
Precaution
Mild to moderate hepatic impairment; history of ulcer disease or GI bleeding; dehydration, hypertension, history of heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction, pre-existing oedema. Monitor Hb or haematocrit values for signs and symptoms of anaemia.
Side Effect
Hypertension, back pain, myalgia, peripheral oedema, influenza-like symptoms, dizziness, headache, abdominal fullness, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, flatulence, nausea, myalgia, sinusitis.
Potentially Fatal: Toxic epidermal necrolysis, exfoliative dermatitis.
Interaction
Concomitant admin of aspirin may result in an increased risk of GI ulceration and complications. It decreases the antihypertensive effect of antihypertensives e.g. ACE inhibitors. It increases plasma conc of dextromethorphan. It significantly decreases lithium serum clearance and renal clearance.