Ketoprofen

Pronunciation: Not established in the reviewed source..

Generic name
ketoprofen
Drug class
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
Form
Immediate-release capsules and extended-release capsules
Route
Not explicitly established in the reviewed notes.
Legal status
Not established in the reviewed source.

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: United States · Canada

Australia: · Full directory

What ketoprofen is and how it works

Ketoprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, general pain, and dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain). (1)

Immediate-release ketoprofen is used for acute pain. Extended-release ketoprofen is for chronic conditions and is not recommended for acute pain.

Mechanism of action: how ketoprofen works

Ketoprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Further pharmacology details were not established in the reviewed notes. (1)

What ketoprofen is used for

Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

Ketoprofen capsules are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. (1)

Acute pain

Immediate-release ketoprofen capsules are used for acute pain. Extended-release capsules are not recommended for acute pain. (1)

Dysmenorrhea

Immediate-release ketoprofen capsules are used for dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain). (1)

Before taking ketoprofen

Do not take / not appropriate for

  • Known hypersensitivity to ketoprofen is a contraindication. Tell the prescriber about any previous reaction before starting treatment. (all ketoprofen products) (1)
  • Asthma, urticaria, or an allergic-type reaction after aspirin or another NSAID is a contraindication. Tell the prescriber if this applies to you so they can determine whether ketoprofen is appropriate. (all ketoprofen products) (1)
  • Perioperative pain in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is a contraindication for ketoprofen; the treating team will select an appropriate alternative. (CABG perioperative pain) (1)

Tell your clinician about

  • Any allergy or reaction to ketoprofen, aspirin, or another NSAID, including asthma, urticaria, or an allergic-type reaction.
  • Any cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular risk factors.
  • Any history of gastrointestinal ulcer, bleeding, or perforation.
  • Renal impairment or advanced renal disease.
  • Pregnancy, especially late pregnancy, plans for pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
  • All medicines being used, particularly aspirin, an ACE inhibitor, a diuretic, or lithium.
(1)

How to take ketoprofen

  • Use the immediate-release or extended-release form and the dose schedule prescribed for the condition being treated.
  • For arthritis in adults, the immediate-release capsule regimen in the reviewed label is 75 mg three times daily or 50 mg four times daily; the maximum immediate-release dose is 300 mg daily.
  • For arthritis in adults, the extended-release capsule regimen in the reviewed label is 200 mg once daily; the maximum extended-release dose is 200 mg daily.
  • For acute pain or dysmenorrhea in adults, the immediate-release capsule regimen in the reviewed label is 25 to 50 mg every 6 to 8 hours, with a maximum of 300 mg daily.
  • Extended-release ketoprofen is not recommended for acute pain.
  • Do not change the prescribed formulation, dose, or dosing interval yourself; ask the prescriber or pharmacist if clarification is needed.
(1)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1)

Missed dose

Missed-dose guidance was not established in the reviewed source. Contact the prescriber or pharmacist for advice on the prescribed regimen; do not take an extra dose without professional advice.

Overdose

Acute NSAID overdose may cause lethargy, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and epigastric (upper abdominal) pain. Respiratory depression, coma, or convulsions have occurred after large ketoprofen overdoses. Seek urgent medical or poison-information service advice if an overdose is suspected. (1)

Side effects

Reported common adverse reactions include dyspepsia, headache, dizziness, nausea, abdominal pain, and rash. Dyspepsia was reported in 11% of patients in the reviewed label.

Dyspepsia

What to notice: Indigestion or dyspepsia.

What to do: Discuss troublesome or persistent symptoms with the prescriber or pharmacist. (1)

Headache or dizziness

What to notice: Headache or dizziness.

What to do: Discuss troublesome or persistent symptoms with the prescriber or pharmacist. (1)

Nausea or abdominal pain

What to notice: Nausea or abdominal pain.

What to do: Discuss troublesome or persistent symptoms with the prescriber or pharmacist. (1)

Rash

What to notice: A rash.

What to do: Seek clinical advice promptly, particularly if the rash is severe or worsening. (1)

Potential serious gastrointestinal adverse event

What to notice: The reviewed label warns that gastrointestinal bleeding, ulceration, and perforation can occur without warning symptoms.

What to do: Seek prompt medical assessment for suspected gastrointestinal bleeding or another serious gastrointestinal adverse event. (1)

Serious skin reaction

What to notice: Stevens-Johnson syndrome is named as a serious adverse reaction. Specific warning symptoms were not established in the reviewed notes.

What to do: Seek prompt medical assessment for a suspected serious skin reaction. (1)

Serious warnings

Cardiovascular thrombotic events — emergency

Symptoms: The reviewed label identifies myocardial infarction (heart attack) and stroke as serious cardiovascular thrombotic events. Specific symptom lists were not established in the reviewed notes.

Action: Obtain emergency medical assessment for a suspected heart attack or stroke. (1)

Gastrointestinal bleeding, ulceration, or perforation — emergency

Symptoms: Serious bleeding, ulceration, or perforation of the stomach or intestines can be fatal and can occur at any time, with or without warning symptoms, including in people without a previous gastrointestinal event.

Action: Obtain urgent medical assessment for suspected gastrointestinal bleeding, ulceration, or perforation. (1)

Severe skin reaction — emergency

Symptoms: Stevens-Johnson syndrome is named as a serious adverse reaction. Specific symptoms were not established in the reviewed notes.

Action: Seek emergency medical assessment for a suspected severe skin reaction. (1)

Interactions

Medicine or testEffectAction
AspirinConcurrent use with aspirin increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.Tell the prescriber and pharmacist if aspirin is being used so they can assess the combination. (1)
ACE inhibitors and diureticsNSAIDs, including ketoprofen, can reduce the effectiveness of ACE inhibitors and diuretics.Give the prescriber and pharmacist a complete list of medicines for interaction review. (1)
LithiumKetoprofen can raise lithium blood levels.Tell the prescriber and pharmacist if lithium is being used so monitoring and treatment decisions can be made by the responsible clinician. (1)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Pregnancy

Late pregnancy carries a risk of premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus with NSAIDs. Pregnancy and treatment decisions are made together with the responsible clinician. (1)

Breastfeeding

Ketoprofen is not recommended during breastfeeding. Discuss options with the responsible clinician. (1)

Renal impairment

Advanced renal disease requires clinician review before use, and renal function should be monitored closely in people with renal impairment. Specific renal dose-adjustment numbers were not established in the reviewed source. (1)

Children and adolescents

Pediatric dosing and use were not established in the reviewed source. (1)

Monitoring

Before starting

  • Assess contraindications, including ketoprofen hypersensitivity, aspirin- or NSAID-associated asthma, urticaria, or allergic-type reactions, and CABG perioperative use.
  • Assess cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular risk factors and gastrointestinal risk history.
  • Assess renal impairment or advanced renal disease and review all medicines, including aspirin, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, and lithium.

During treatment

  • Monitor renal function closely in patients with renal impairment.
  • Assess for serious cardiovascular thrombotic events and serious gastrointestinal adverse events.
  • Review concurrent aspirin, ACE inhibitor, diuretic, and lithium use for the interactions identified in the reviewed label.
(1)

Storage

Specific storage instructions were not established in the reviewed source. Consult the supplied product packaging or pharmacist.

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only. Use the current local product information and individual clinical assessment. No non-US regulatory label was reviewed for this draft.

United States

Indication: Adults with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis

Dose summary: Immediate-release capsules: 75 mg three times daily or 50 mg four times daily; maximum 300 mg daily. Extended-release capsules: 200 mg once daily; maximum 200 mg daily.

Renal context: Avoid use in advanced renal disease. Monitor renal function closely in renal impairment. Specific renal dose-adjustment numbers were not established in the reviewed source. (1)

United States

Indication: Adults with acute pain or dysmenorrhea

Dose summary: Immediate-release capsules: 25 to 50 mg every 6 to 8 hours; maximum 300 mg daily. Extended-release capsules are not recommended for acute pain.

Renal context: Avoid use in advanced renal disease. Monitor renal function closely in renal impairment. Specific renal dose-adjustment numbers were not established in the reviewed source. (1)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

Hepatic-impairment-specific dosing guidance was not established in the reviewed source.

Overdose note

Acute NSAID overdose may include lethargy, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and epigastric pain. Respiratory depression, coma, or convulsions have occurred after large ketoprofen overdoses. (1)

Frequently asked questions

Can extended-release ketoprofen be used for acute pain?

No. The reviewed label states that extended-release ketoprofen is not recommended for acute pain. Immediate-release capsules are used for acute pain. (1)

Can ketoprofen cause serious stomach or intestinal problems?

Yes. NSAIDs, including ketoprofen, can cause serious and potentially fatal gastrointestinal bleeding, ulceration, and perforation. These events can occur at any time, with or without warning symptoms. (1)

Can I use aspirin with ketoprofen?

Using aspirin with ketoprofen increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. A prescriber or pharmacist should assess medicines used together. (1)

What is the mechanism of action of ketoprofen?

Ketoprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Further pharmacology details were not established in the reviewed notes. (1)

What is the generic name of Ketoprofen?

The generic name is ketoprofen. (1)

What class of drug is ketoprofen?

Ketoprofen is classed as: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). (1)

References

  1. KETOPROFEN CAPSULES prescribing informationU.S. Food and Drug Administration (DailyMed) · United States · accessed 2026-08-05 · source 1
  2. KETOPROFEN CAPSULE [MARNEL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.] — US prescribing information (DailyMed SPL)U.S. National Library of Medicine (DailyMed) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 2
  3. Ketoprofen — patient drug information (MedlinePlus)U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 3
  4. Ketoprofen — FDA approval record (Drugs@FDA ANDA075679)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 4
  5. ketoprofen — RxNorm normalized drug concept (RXCUI 6142)U.S. National Library of Medicine (RxNorm) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 5

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient ketoprofen names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

United States

  • Orudis75 mg · allegis pharmaceuticals, inc.

Canada

  • KETOPROFEN-E
  • KETOPROFEN SR
  • KETOPROFEN SUPPOSITORIES
  • PMS-KETOPROFEN E-100 - ECT
  • PMS-KETOPROFEN E-50 - ECT
View brands in additional countries.

This page provides general medicine information, not a diagnosis, prescription, dosing plan, or substitute for the prescriber, pharmacist, and current local product information.

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