Comparative effects of nabumetone, naproxen, piroxicam, and diclofenac on rat gastric irritancy following acute exposure to OTC non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents and other gastric irritants.

This study examined the relative effects of equally-effective anti-inflammatory doses of nabumetone, naproxen, piroxicam and diclofenac on gastric irritancy induced by over-the-counter (OTC) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) aspirin and ibuprofen and a variety of necrotizing agents (0.6 N HCl, 0.2 N NaOH and 25% NaCl). Within one hour, aspirin 100 and 200 mg/kg and ibuprofen up to 15 mg/kg produced significant gastric mucosal injury. Aspirin 50 mg/kg produced only minimal damage that was enhanced by 5 x ID25 piroxicam and naproxen, but not by nabumetone or diclofenac. 5 x ID25 naproxen, piroxicam, and diclofenac significantly enhanced mucosal damage produced by ibuprofen 2.5 mg/kg. An equivalent anti-inflammatory dose of nabumetone failed to enhance the gastric irritancy produced by ibuprofen 2.5 mg/kg. Similarly, naproxen, piroxicam, and diclofenac enhanced the susceptibility of the gastric mucosa to the necrotizing actions of 0.6 N HCl, 0.2 N NaOH or 25% NaCl. Naproxen, piroxicam, or diclofenac are more likely than nabumetone to enhance gastric mucosal injury produced by OTC NSAIDs (aspirin and ibuprofen) or other gastric irritants.