Indomethacin selective toxicity

Apart from the salicylates NSAIDs include several classes of weak acids like propionic acid derivatives such as ibuprofen, carprofen, fenbufen, fenoprofen, flurbiprofen, ketorolac, loxoprofen, naproxen, oxaprozin, tiaprofenic acid and suprofen. Phenylbutazone is the most important representative of the pyrazolon derivatives which have a bad reputation for their risk of potentially fatal bone-marrow toxicity. To the acetic acid derivatives belong in-domethacin, diclofenac and sulindac. Sulindac is a pro-drug with less toxicity than indomethacin. The enolic acids include piroxicam, droxicam and tenoxicam. Meloxicam is an analog of piroxicam and has a high selectivity for COX-2. 

Indomethacin (Indocin) is used in the treatment of acute gouty arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and osteoarthritis. It is not recommended for use as a simple analgesic or antipyretic because of its potential for toxicity. While indomethacin inhibits both COX-1 and COX-2, it is moderately selective for COX-1. It produces more CNS side effects than most of the other NSAIDs. Severe headache occurs in 25 to 50% of patients vertigo, confusion, and psychological disturbances occur with some regularity. GI symptoms also are more frequent and severe than with most other... 

Thus, NSAIDs tend to be differentiated on the basis of toxicity and cost-effectiveness. For example, the gastrointestinal and renal side effects of ketorolac limit its use. Some surveys suggest that indomethacin or tolmetin are the NSAIDs associated with the greatest toxicity, while salsalate, aspirin, and ibuprofen are least toxic. The selective COX-2 inhibitors were not included in these analyses. 

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