Wakoflex 50 mg Tablet

Wakoflex 50 mg tablet is manufactured and marketed by Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd. in Bangladesh. Its active ingredient is Ketoprofen, a well-established non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) of the propionic acid family — the same family as ibuprofen, but generally somewhat more potent dose for dose. Doctors prescribe it mainly for joint, muscle and bone pain where both pain relief and reduction of inflammation are needed.

Ketoprofen works by inhibiting cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzymes, which the body uses to produce prostaglandins — chemicals responsible for pain, swelling, stiffness and fever. Lowering prostaglandin levels eases inflamed joints and sore muscles. Because prostaglandins also protect the stomach lining, Wakoflex must always be taken with food, and only at the dose your doctor advises.

Wakoflex is prescribed for painful and inflammatory conditions of the joints, muscles and bones, including:

• Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis (inflammatory back stiffness)
• Acute gout attacks
• Sprains, strains and sports injuries
• Low back pain, neck pain and shoulder pain
• Period pain (dysmenorrhoea)
• Pain and swelling after dental work or minor surgery

It is meant for doctor-advised use, particularly when treatment is needed for more than a few days, because NSAIDs require monitoring of the stomach, kidneys and blood pressure during longer courses.

Your doctor will set the exact dose based on your condition, age and kidney function. Typical adult ranges are:

• Immediate-release tablets/capsules: 50 mg three to four times daily, or 100 mg twice daily, taken with food
• Sustained-release (SR) forms: 100–200 mg once daily after a full meal, swallowed whole without crushing or chewing
• Maximum: usually 200 mg in 24 hours

Take Wakoflex with or immediately after meals with a full glass of water. Use the lowest dose that controls your symptoms for the shortest time needed, never combine it with other NSAIDs, and remember that elderly patients should use it only under close medical supervision.

Like all NSAIDs, Ketoprofen can cause side effects, and its stomach-related risk is comparatively high within this group:

• Common: indigestion, heartburn, stomach pain, nausea, loose stools, headache, dizziness
• Less common: fluid retention, raised blood pressure, skin rash, drowsiness, ringing in the ears
• Serious (seek immediate care): black or bloody stools, vomiting blood, severe persistent stomach pain, swelling of the face or throat, breathing difficulty, sudden drop in urine output

Report any new stomach symptoms promptly. Doctors sometimes co-prescribe a gastric-protective medicine (such as a PPI) for people who need longer courses.

Follow these precautions while taking Wakoflex:

• Always take it with or after food, never on an empty stomach
• Avoid it entirely in dengue fever or when dengue is suspected — NSAIDs raise the risk of dangerous bleeding; use paracetamol for fever instead
• Be cautious if you have a history of ulcers, kidney disease, heart disease, high blood pressure or asthma
• Avoid alcohol and smoking, which add to stomach irritation
• Maintain good hydration, especially in hot weather or with diarrhoea and vomiting
• Do not combine it with other NSAID painkillers, including over-the-counter ones
• Elderly people need the lowest possible dose and regular review

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all medicines you use. Wakoflex can interact with:

• Anticoagulants and antiplatelets (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel) — increased bleeding risk
• Other NSAIDs and corticosteroids — greatly increased ulcer and bleeding risk
• Antihypertensives and diuretics (ACE inhibitors, ARBs, frusemide) — reduced effect and possible kidney strain
• Lithium and methotrexate — blood levels may rise dangerously
• SSRIs and SNRIs — added bleeding tendency
• Sulphonylurea diabetes medicines — blood sugar may dip; monitor closely

Avoid alcohol while on treatment, and always mention herbal or over-the-counter products you take regularly.

Wakoflex must not be used if any of the following applies to you:

• Allergy to ketoprofen, aspirin or any NSAID — especially if it previously caused an asthma attack, hives or facial swelling
• Active peptic ulcer, or a history of recurrent ulcers or NSAID-related stomach bleeding
• Severe heart failure, severe kidney disease or severe liver disease
• Bleeding disorders, low platelets or dengue fever
• Third trimester of pregnancy

People with previous gastrointestinal bleeding of any cause should use NSAIDs only with explicit medical approval and gastric protection.

Pregnancy: Ketoprofen should be avoided throughout pregnancy unless a doctor decides it is essential. It is strictly contraindicated in the third trimester, when it can affect the baby's heart circulation and kidneys, reduce amniotic fluid and delay labour. If you become pregnant while taking it, inform your doctor promptly.

Breastfeeding: Data on ketoprofen in breast milk are limited, so it is generally not the preferred painkiller for nursing mothers. Safer alternatives such as paracetamol or ibuprofen are usually chosen instead. Always tell your doctor that you are breastfeeding before any painkiller is prescribed.

Store Wakoflex in its original packaging at room temperature below 30°C, protected from direct sunlight, heat and moisture. Avoid keeping medicines in bathrooms or near cooking areas where humidity is high. Keep the pack well out of the reach and sight of children. Do not use the medicine beyond the expiry date printed on the pack, and discard tablets or capsules that appear cracked, discoloured or damaged. Return or dispose of leftover medicine safely instead of storing it for self-medication later.