Scientists led by Claude Winder fromParke-Davis invented meclofenamate sodium in 1964, along with fellow members of the class,mefenamic acid in 1961 andflufenamic acid in 1963.[4]: 718
Patents on the drug expired in 1985[5]: 295 and several generics were introduced in the US, but as of July 2015 onlyMylan still sold it.[6][7]
It is not widely used in humans as it has a high rate (30-60%) rate of gastrointestinal side effects.[8]: 310
In October 2020, the U.S.Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required theprescribing information to be updated for all nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications to describe the risk of kidney problems in unborn babies that result in lowamniotic fluid.[9][10] They recommend avoiding NSAIDs in pregnant women at 20 weeks or later in pregnancy.[9][10]
Meclofenamic acid is sold under the trade name "Arquel" for use in horses, and is administered as an oral granule form at a dose of 2.2 mg/kg/day.[11] It has a relatively slow onset of action, taking 36–48 hours for full effect,[12] and is most useful for treatment of chronic musculoskeletal disease.[13] It has been found to be beneficial for the treatment ofnavicular syndrome,laminitis, andosteoarthritis,[12] in some cases having a more profound effect than the commonly used NSAIDphenylbutazone.[14] However, due to cost, it is not routinely used in practice. Toxicity due to excessive dosage is similar to that of phenylbutazone, including depression,anorexia, weight loss,edema,diarrhea, oral ulceration, and decreasedhematocrit.[14]
^Whitehouse M (2009). "Drugs to Treat Inflammation: A Historical Overview.". In Rahman A, et al. (eds.).Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry. Vol. 4. Bentham Science Publishers. pp. 707–729.ISBN978-1-60805-207-3.
^abCotter GH, Riley WF, Beck CC, Coppock RW (1973). "Arquel (Cl- 1583). A new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug for horses".Proceedings. Am Assoc Equine Practnr.19:81–90.
^Snow DH, Baxter P, Whiting B (June 1981). "The pharmacokinetics of meclofenamic acid in the horse".Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.4 (2):147–56.doi:10.1111/j.1365-2885.1981.tb00724.x.PMID7349327.
^abLees P, Higgins AJ (March 1985). "Clinical pharmacology and therapeutic uses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the horse".Equine Veterinary Journal.17 (2):83–96.doi:10.1111/j.2042-3306.1985.tb02056.x.PMID3987667.
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