Ketoprofen
/api/v1/drug/ketoprofenBoxed warning
Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may occur early in treatment and may increase with duration of use (see WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS ). • Ketoprofen extended-release capsules are contraindicated in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery (see CONTRAINDICATIONS and WARNINGS ). Gastrointestinal Risk • NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal. These events can occur at any time during use and without warning symptoms. Elderly patients are at greater risk for serious gastrointestinal (GI) events (see WARNINGS ).
Mechanism of action
Sourced from openFDAMechanism-of-action class: Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors.
Indications
Sourced from openFDA- Carefully consider the potential benefits and risks of ketoprofen extended-release capsules before deciding to use ketoprofen extended-release capsules. Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals (see WARNINGS ).
Contraindications
Sourced from openFDA- Ketoprofen extended-release capsules are contraindicated in patients who have shown hypersensitivity to ketoprofen. Ketoprofen extended-release capsules should not be given to patients who have experienced asthma, urticaria, or allergic-type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs.contraindicated
Dosage & administration
Sourced from openFDACarefully consider the potential benefits and risks of ketoprofen extended-release capsules and other treatment options before deciding to use ketoprofen extended-release capsules. Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals (see WARNINGS ). After observing the response to initial therapy with ketoprofen extended-release capsules, the dose and frequency should be adjusted to suit an individual patient’s needs. Concomitant use of ketoprofen extended-release capsules is not recommended. If minor side effects appear, they may disappear at a lower dose which may still have an adequate therapeutic effect. If well tolerated but not optimally effective, the dosage may be increased. Individual patients may show a better response to 300 mg of ketoprofen capsules daily as compared to 200 mg, although in well-controlled clinical trials patients on 300 mg did not show greater mean effectiveness. They did, however, show an increased frequency of upper- and lower-GI distress and headaches. It is of interest that women also had an increased frequency of these adverse effects compared to men. When treating patients with 300 mg/day, the physician should observe sufficient increased clinical benefit to offset potential increased risk. In patients with mildly impaired renal function, the maximum recommended total daily dose of ketoprofen extended-release capsules is 150 mg.
Warnings & precautions
Sourced from openFDACardiovascular Effects Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events Clinical trials of several COX-2 selective and nonselective NSAIDs of up to three years duration have shown an increased risk of serious cardiovascular (CV) thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke, which can be fatal. Based on available data, it is unclear that the risk for CV thrombotic events is similar for all NSAIDs. The relative increase in serious CV thrombotic events over baseline conferred by NSAID use appears to be similar in those with and without known CV disease or risk factors for CV disease. However, patients with known CV disease or risk factors had a higher absolute incidence of excess serious CV thrombotic events, due to their increased baseline rate. Some observational studies found that this increased risk of serious CV thrombotic events began as early as the first weeks of treatment. The increase in CV thrombotic risk has been observed most consistently at higher doses. To minimize the potential risk for an adverse CV event in NSAID-treated patients, use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration possible. Physicians and patients should remain alert for the development of such events, throughout the entire treatment course, even in the absence of previous CV symptoms. Patients should be informed about the symptoms of serious CV events and the steps to take if they occur. There is no consistent evidence that concurrent use of aspirin mitigates the increased risk of serious CV thrombotic events associated with NSAID use.
Adverse reactions
Sourced from openFDAThe incidence of common adverse reactions (above 1%) was obtained from a population of 835 ketoprofen capsules-treated patients in double-blind trials lasting from 4 to 54 weeks and in 622 ketoprofen extended-release capsules treated (200 mg/day) patients in trials lasting from 4 to 16 weeks. Minor gastrointestinal side effects predominated; upper gastrointestinal symptoms were more common than lower gastrointestinal symptoms. In crossover trials in 321 patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, there was no difference in either upper or lower gastrointestinal symptoms between patients treated with 200 mg of ketoprofen extended-release capsules once a day or 75 mg of ketoprofen capsules TID (225 mg/day). Peptic ulcer or GI bleeding occurred in controlled clinical trials in less than 1% of 1,076 patients; however, in open label continuation studies in 1,292 patients the rate was greater than 2%. The incidence of peptic ulceration in patients on NSAIDs is dependent on many risk factors including age, sex, smoking, alcohol use, diet, stress, concomitant drugs such as aspirin and corticosteroids, as well as the dose and duration of treatment with NSAIDs (see WARNINGS ). Gastrointestinal reactions were followed in frequency by central nervous system side effects, such as headache, dizziness, or drowsiness. The incidence of some adverse reactions appears to be dose-related (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ).
Use in specific populations
Sourced from openFDAPregnancy Risk Summary Use of NSAIDs, including ketoprofen extended-release capsules, can cause premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus and fetal renal dysfunction leading to oligohydramnios and, in some cases, neonatal renal impairment. Because of these risks, limit dose and duration of ketoprofen extended-release capsules use between about 20 and 30 weeks of gestation, and avoid ketoprofen extended-release capsules use at about 30 weeks of gestation and later in pregnancy (see WARNINGS: Fetal Toxicity ). Premature Closure of Fetal Ductus Arteriosus Use of NSAIDs, including ketoprofen extended-release capsules, at about 30 weeks gestation or later in pregnancy increases the risk of premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus. Oligohydramnios/Neonatal Renal Impairment Use of NSAIDs at about 20 weeks gestation or later in pregnancy has been associated with cases of fetal renal dysfunction leading to oligohydramnios, and in some cases, neonatal renal impairment. Data from observational studies regarding other potential embryofetal risks of NSAID use in women in the first or second trimesters of pregnancy are inconclusive.
Pharmacokinetics
Sourced from openFDA- Metabolism
- General Ketoprofen extended-release capsules contain ketoprofen. They differ only in their release characteristics.
Overdosage
Sourced from openFDASigns and symptoms following acute NSAID overdose are usually limited to lethargy, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and epigastric pain, which are generally reversible with supportive care. Respiratory depression, coma, or convulsions have occurred following large ketoprofen overdoses. Gastrointestinal bleeding, hypotension, hypertension, or acute renal failure may occur, but are rare. Patients should be managed by symptomatic and supportive care following an NSAID overdose. There are no specific antidotes. Gut decontamination may be indicated in patients with symptoms seen within 4 hours (longer for sustained‑release products) or following a large overdose (5 to 10 times the usual dose). This should be accomplished via emesis and/or activated charcoal (60 g to 100 g in adults, 1 to 2 g/kg in children) with a saline cathartic or sorbitol added to the first dose. Forced diuresis, alkalinization of the urine, hemodialysis or hemoperfusion would probably not be useful due to ketoprofen’s high protein binding. Case reports include twenty-six overdoses: 6 were in children, 16 in adolescents, and 4 in adults. Five of these patients had minor symptoms (vomiting in 4, drowsiness in 1 child).
Approval history
Sourced from openFDA- Jan 29, 1993ANDAANDA074014Misemer
- Feb 20, 2002ANDAANDA075679Mylan
FAERS reports
- 1Headache1,1919.4%
- 2Pain1,1038.7%
- 3Fatigue9107.2%
- 4Nausea7746.1%
- 5Drug Ineffective7636.0%
- 6Pyrexia7425.9%
- 7Off Label Use7285.7%
- 8Infusion Site Pain7185.7%
- 9Rheumatoid Arthritis6875.4%
- 10Hypersensitivity6855.4%
- 11Back Pain6765.3%
- 12Hyperhidrosis6755.3%
- 13Diarrhoea6585.2%
- 14Erythema6475.1%
- 15Rash6415.1%
Literature
Recent PubMed references pinned to Ketoprofen as a MeSH major topic. Citations link to pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- Comparative Analgesic Efficacy of Diclofenac and Ketoprofen Transdermal Patches Versus Ibuprofen Tablets for Pain Control After Initial Archwire Placement in Orthodontic Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Pain research & management · 2026 · Babaee Hemmati Y, Toghrolian APMID 42170735DOI 10.1155/prm/9922008
- Construction of a Cd(6)Eu(4)-containing coordination polymer for luminescence detection of ketoprofen as an anti-inflammatory drug.Chemical communications (Cambridge, England) · 2026 · Song J, Zhang S, Wang SQ, et al.PMID 42108931DOI 10.1039/d6cc01054g
- Physicochemical, spectral, medicinal, and toxicological studies of Ketoprofen, Ibuprofen, and their major degradants: A quantum-chemical and in silico approach.PloS one · 2026 · Chakraborty P, Mohajan S, Samia O, et al.PMID 42090435DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0348675
- Supercritical CO(2)-assisted spray-dried drug particle production.International journal of pharmaceutics · 2026 · Baassiri M, Ranade V, Padrela L, et al.PMID 41903781DOI 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2026.126809
- The Hidden Threat of Pharmaceuticals: Ketoprofen Degradation and Toxicity to Non-Target Organisms.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026 · Solski P, Guzik U, Wojcieszyńska D, et al.PMID 41900049DOI 10.3390/molecules31060949
- Ketoprofen lysine salt for relieving acute pain: a multi-regression analysis.Panminerva medica · 2026 · Scaglione F, Licari A, Marseglia G, et al.PMID 41814920DOI 10.23736/S0031-0808.25.05421-7
- A Robust LC-MS/MS Bioanalytical Strategy for Simultaneous Quantification of Tramadol HCl and Dexketoprofen Trometamol and Its Use in Pharmacokinetic Studies.Biomedical chromatography : BMC · 2026 · Rao AS, Bangaraiah P, Konidala SK, et al.PMID 41714094DOI 10.1002/bmc.70398
- Personalized oral drug delivery via FDM 3D printing: Polyvinyl alcohol capsules with tunable release profiles supported by in silico modeling.European journal of pharmaceutical sciences : official journal of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences · 2026 · Yasin HKA, Al-Tabakha MM, Chan SY, et al.PMID 41702496DOI 10.1016/j.ejps.2026.107475
Clinical trials
The 10 most recently updated of 126 ClinicalTrials.gov registrations naming Ketoprofen as an intervention. Registration is not evidence of efficacy or safety — reference crosswalk only.
- Comparative Evaluation of Transdermal and Oral Drugs for Management of Post-Endodontic PainCompleted · Phase 4 · Interventional · 80 enrolled · Nims University RajasthanNCT07610265updated 2026-06-10
- Combined Distal Femoral Nerve Block for Pain Control After Knee ReplacementNot yet recruiting · Interventional · 240 enrolled · Ramsay Générale de SantéNCT07629388updated 2026-06-05
- Efficacy and Safety of Ketoprofen Topical Patch 20% in the Treatment of Pain Associated With Shoulder, Elbow or Knee Tendonitis or BursitisTerminated · Phase 3 · Interventional · 381 enrolled · APR Applied Pharma Research s.a.NCT00426985updated 2026-05-22
- Multiprofen-CC to Reduce Pain in Hand ArthritisRecruiting · Phase 3 · Interventional · 42 enrolled · St. Joseph's Healthcare HamiltonNCT06966206updated 2026-05-04
- Photobiomodulation for Episiotomies and Perineal Lacerations After Vaginal Delivery.Completed · Observational · 183 enrolled · University of Nove de JulhoNCT06893315updated 2026-04-29
- Paracetamol With or Without Ketoprofen in the Management of Pain for Patients Receiving Brachytherapy (KETOCOL-1304)Completed · Phase 2 · Interventional · 68 enrolled · Centre Oscar LambretNCT02439034updated 2026-03-16
- Study of Analgesics Drug and Human Milk Transfer in Mature Milk, to Avoid Breastfeeding Cessation Without Scientific ProbesCompleted · Observational · 35 enrolled · Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de ParisNCT01854411updated 2026-03-04
- Ketamine Administration for Postoperative Pain Management in Patients Undergoing Knee ArthroplastyCompleted · Interventional · 100 enrolled · State Budgetary Healthcare Institution, National Medical Surgical Center N.A. N.I. Pirogov, Ministry of Health of RussiaNCT07059429updated 2026-03-02
- Helping Osteoarthritis Patients to Walk With NSAIDRecruiting · Phase 4 · Interventional · 55 enrolled · University Hospital, Clermont-FerrandNCT05761015updated 2026-02-27
- Effect of Phonophoresis on Trigger PointsCompleted · Interventional · 20 enrolled · Batterjee Medical CollegeNCT05925855updated 2026-02-24
Frequently asked questions
- How does Ketoprofen work?
- Mechanism-of-action class: Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors.
- What is Ketoprofen used for?
- According to FDA labeling, Ketoprofen carries indications including: Carefully consider the potential benefits and risks of ketoprofen extended-release capsules before deciding to use ketoprofen extended-release capsules. Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals (see WARNINGS ).. This is a reference summary of labeled uses, not medical advice or a treatment recommendation.
- What class of drug is Ketoprofen?
- Ketoprofen is classified as Antiinflammatory preparations, non-steroids for topical use, Propionic acid derivatives, Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug, Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors, Decreased Prostaglandin Production.
- What are the brand names for Ketoprofen?
- Ketoprofen is marketed under brand names including Draxxin KP, Ketofen, Ketomed, Kiprofen, Orudis.
- What are the contraindications for Ketoprofen?
- Ketoprofen labeling lists contraindications including: Ketoprofen extended-release capsules are contraindicated in patients who have shown hypersensitivity to ketoprofen. Ketoprofen extended-release capsules should not be given to patients who have experienced asthma, urticaria, or allergic-type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs.. Always consult the full prescribing information and a clinician.
ketoprofen is illustrative MVP content compiled from public sources. pharmacopeia is for educational and informational use only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.