Review Article

NSAIDs and Cardiovascular Diseases: Role of Reactive Oxygen Species

Table 1

List of NSAIDs with their recommended doses and levels in the circulation.

Generic nameChemical nameRecommended dosages (may vary depending on the age and condition)Levels in the circulation (μM and μg/mL) (dose dependent)Trade name

Diclofenac{2-[(2,6-Dichlorophenyl)amino]phenyl acetic  acid25 mg–150 mg/day*5 μM (1.5 μg/mL) and 7 μM (2.0 μg/mL) [for 50 mg and 75 mg doses, respectively]Zorvolex, Cataflam, Cambia, Voltaren, Voltaren gel, Arthrotec
(combined with misoprostol), Flector, Zipsor, Pennsaid

Indomethacin[1-(4-Chlorobenzoyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl]acetic  acid25 mg–200 mg/day*3 μM–6 μM (1 to 2 μg/mL)Tivorbex, Indocin, Indocin SR, Indo-Lemmon, Indomethagan

Ketoprofen2-(3-Benzoylphenyl) propanoic acid25 mg–300 mg/day**2 μM to 22 μM (0.43 to 5.62 μg/mL) [50 mg dose]Oruvail, Nexcede

Ibuprofen 2-(4-Isobutylphenyl) propanoic acid100 mg–800 mg/day*97 μM–291 μM (20–60 μg/mL) [400 mg dose]Advil, Motrin and Nurofen, Vicoprofen (combined with hydrocodone), Duexis (combined with famotidine)

Naproxen(2S)-2-(6-Methoxy-2-naphthyl) propanoic acid250 mg–1000 mg/day (both oral and IV)*377 μM (95 μg/mL)
500 mg dose once every 12 h or 1000 mg dose for 5 days
Naprosyn, EC-Naprosyn, Naprapac (copackaged with lansoprazole), Aleve, Accord, Anaprox DS, Anaprox Antalgin, Apranax, Treximet (combined with sumatriptan succinate) and Vimovo (combined with esomeprazole magnesium)

Sulindac {(1Z)-5-Fluoro-2-methyl-1-[4-(methylsulfinyl)benzylidene]-1H-inden-3-yl}acetic  acid200 mg–400 mg/day**1.4 μM–6 μM (0.5–2.0 μg/mL) constant for all dosesClinoril

Ketorolac5-Benzoyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolizine-1-carboxylic  acid10 mg–40 mg/day**39 μM (10 μg/mL)Toradol, Sprix

Piroxicam4-Hydroxy-2-methyl-N-(2-pyridinyl)-2H-1,2-benzothiazine-3-carboxamide  1,1-dioxide0.2 mg–20 mg/day*5 μM to 6 μM (1.5 to 2 μg/mL) [single 20 mg dose] 9 μM to 24 μM (3–8 μg/mL) [for 20 mg repeated doses]Feldene

NimesulideN-(4-Nitro-2-phenoxyphenyl)methanesulfonamide100 mg twice daily**10 μM to 20 μM (2.86 to 4.58) mg/L [100 mg] [175]Sulide, Nimalox, Mesulid, Xilox, Nise, Nexen, Nidolon

Diflunisal2′,4′-Difluoro-4-hydroxy-3-biphenylcarboxylic  acid250 mg–1000 mg**164 μM (41 μg/mL) [250 mg doses] 348 μM (87 μg/mL) [500 mg doses] and 496 μM (124 μg/mL) [single 1000 mg dose] Dolobid

Flurbiprofen2-(2-Fluoro-4-biphenylyl)propanoic  acid50 mg–300 mg/day**60 μM (14 mg/L) [0.65 mg/kg of flurbiprofen IV] [176]Ansaid

Mefenamic acid2-[(2,3-Dimethylphenyl)amino]benzoic  acid250 mg followed by 500 mg every 6 hours*83 μM (20 μg/mL) [250 mg single doses]Ponstel

Tolmetin[1-Methyl-5-(4-methylbenzoyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl]acetic  acid5 mg–1800 mg/day**156 μM (40 μg/mL) [400 mg oral dose] Tolectin, Tolectin DS, Tolectin 600

The table lists only those NSAIDs that have been mentioned in Table 3 along with their recommended doses and respective concentrations in the circulation. Most of the information regarding the dosages and levels in serum or plasma of the NSAIDs has been taken from the FDA approved site, http://www.drugs.com. Nimesulide is the only NSAID in the list that is not available in the USA. References for the plasma concentrations of flurbiprofen and nimesulide are given in the table. *Serum concentrations, **Plasma concentrations.