CLINICAL PHARMACOKINETICS OF LORNOXICAM - A SHORT HALF-LIFE OXICAM

Lornoxicam (chlorotenoxicam) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) of the oxicam class. Unlike other oxicams, lornoxicam has a re latively short plasma half-life (3 to 5 hours). Lornoxicam is eliminat ed following biotransformation to 5'-hydroxy-lornoxicam, which does no t undergo enterohepatic recirculation. Glucoroconjugated metabolites a re excreted in urine and faeces with a half-life of about 11 hours. Lo rnoxicam and its metabolites bind extensively to plasma albumin. Subst antial concentrations of lornoxicam are attained in synovial fluid, th e proposed site of action in chronic inflammatory arthropathies. The e ffects of lornoxicam concentration on its therapeutic and toxicologica l properties have not yet been extensively reported. Lornoxicam, like other NSAIDs, appears to interact with warfarin, sulphonylureas, digox in and furosemide.