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Loxoprofen provides rapid symptom reduction in upper respiratory tract infections, improving clinical outcomes in over 94% of patients.
Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), commonly triggered by viruses and allergens, are a frequent reason for doctor visits worldwide. While nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are usually employed to alleviate pain and inflammation, their gastrointestinal (GI) side effects limit long-term use.
A recent open, noncontrolled collaborative trial investigated the safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of loxoprofen sodium, a phenylpropionic NSAID, designed as a prodrug to minimize direct GI irritation. Led by S. Marone et al., the study enrolled 664 patients (298 males,366 females) with a mean age of 34 ± 12 years suffering from acute URTI. The enrolled subjects received 60 mg loxoprofen tablets three times daily for a minimum of two weeks.
Weekly assessments included a visual analog scale (VAS) for spontaneous pain and pain during swallowing, and the Schachtel Scale for other clinical symptoms. Pharyngitis was the most common diagnosis (38.6%), followed by tonsillitis (19.4%). The mean disease duration was 3.6 ± 4.5 days, ranging from 0.5 to 60 days, while treatment lasted an average of 7.9 ± 2.1 days. Antibiotics were frequently co-prescribed alongside loxoprofen.
Symptom scores showed remarkable improvement within the first week of therapy, including both spontaneous pain and odynophagia. Schachtel scale evaluations—including body temperature, oropharynx color, enanthemas, and lymph node status—illustrated marked recovery. Final evaluations by patients and investigators reported clinical improvement in over 94% of cases. Loxoprofen was well-tolerated, with only 6.9% of patients (46 individuals) experiencing adverse events, most of which (75.5%) were mild.
GI complaints like epigastric pain and pyrosis were the most commonly observed side effects. This study reinforces that loxoprofen is both efficient and highly tolerable as a complementary treatment for URTIs under routine clinical conditions, offering a valuable option for those seeking relief from pain and inflammation without GI risk.
Revista Brasileira de Medicina
Loxoprofen sodium as a complementary therapy of acute upper respiratory tract infections. A collaborative study
S. Marone et al.
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