Phenylbutazone is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug indicated for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, acute attacks of gout or extra-articular rheumatism, as it inhibits inflammatory substances in the body, having an anti-rheumatic, analgesic and antipyretic effect.
This medicine should only be used under the advice of a rheumatologist, as it can cause serious side effects, such as bleeding in the stomach or intestine, kidney failure, or increase the risk of developing a heart attack or stroke.
Phenylbutazone can be found in pharmacies or drugstores, in the form of tablets containing 200 mg of calcium phenylbutazone, under the trade name Butacid, and treatment should not exceed one week.
What is it for
Phenylbutazone is indicated for the treatment of:
- Active ankylosing spondylitis;
- Acute attack of gout or pseudogout;
- Exacerbations of rheumatoid arthritis;
- Osteoarthrosis;
- Acute extra-articular rheumatism, such as tendinitis or bursitis.
Currently, phenylbutazone is rarely recommended by a doctor, as it can cause serious side effects. Therefore, its use must be carried out with medical indication, after evaluating the benefits of the treatment and potential health risks, on an individual basis.
Is phenylbutazone a corticosteroid?
Phenylbutazone is not a corticosteroid and does not contain any corticosteroids in its composition.
This medicine is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory that inhibits the production of prostaglandins, which are inflammatory substances, and thus reduces inflammation in the body.
Which doctor to consult?
A rheumatologist should be consulted to evaluate and diagnose rheumatological diseases, such as rheumatism, osteoarthritis, gout or ankylosing spondylitis, for example, and thus recommend the best treatment.
How to drink
Calcium phenylbutazone should be taken orally, with a glass of water, with or immediately after a meal. The tablet must be taken whole, without breaking or chewing.
The dosage of phenylbutazone for adults varies according to the condition being treated, and the person’s health status, and includes:
- Rheumatic diseases: The normally recommended doses in the first days of treatment are 2 to 3 tablets (400 mg to 600 mg) per day, taken throughout the day, as per medical advice. After the first few days, the dose can be reduced by the doctor to 1 200 mg tablet per day;
- Acute gout attacks: The normally recommended doses in the first 1 to 3 days of treatment are 3 to 4 tablets (600 mg to 800 mg) per day, divided into 2 to 3 doses. If the doctor recommends continuing treatment, the dose should be reduced to 1 to 2 tablets (200 mg to 400 mg) per day.
Phenylbutazone doses must be adapted to each case by the rheumatologist or orthopedist, using the lowest possible dose that has a therapeutic effect, and treatment should not exceed 1 week.
Possible side effects
Side effects that may occur during treatment with phenylbutazone are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, excess gas, heartburn, stomach pain, dry mouth, headache, mental confusion, numbness, drowsiness, agitation or tremor.
Additionally, phenylbutazone can cause serious side effects, such as:
Therefore, you should notify your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room if you experience symptoms such as gum or vaginal bleeding, blood in your urine or feces, vomiting or coughing up blood, difficulty urinating or no urine, sudden swelling. , dark urine, light stools, yellowish skin or eyes.
You should also seek emergency help immediately if symptoms such as severe headache, shortness of breath, chest pain, weakness on one side of the body, loss of balance, blurred vision, difficulty speaking or thinking appear.
Who shouldn’t use
Phenylbutazone should not be used by children and adolescents under the age of 18, or by people who have ulcers or gastrointestinal inflammation, blood dyscrasias, clotting problems, heart, kidney, liver or lung failure, severe high blood pressure or thyroid problems.
This remedy should also not be used by people who have Sjögren’s syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, temporal arteritis, thrombocytopenia, or people being treated with anticoagulants or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Phenylbutazone is also contraindicated for people who are allergic to phenylbutazone or other pyrazole derivatives, or for breastfeeding or pregnant women, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy.
