Anti-inflammatory efficacy and gastrointestinal irritancy: comparative 1 month repeat oral dose studies in the rat with nabumetone, ibuprofen and diclofenac.

Repeat oral dosing of nabumetone for 1 month maintains anti-inflammatory efficacy in a carrageenan model of paw oedema yet does not cause gastrointestinal damage. In contrast, ibuprofen or diclofenac, while also retaining anti-inflammatory activity, produced marked gastrointestinal irritancy as evidenced by mucosal damage and blood loss.