What is Enantyum for? Indications and effects

The consumption of pain relievers is enormously widespread. Nolotil, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Voltarén or Aspirin are some of the most used drugs, especially without a prescription.

In recent years, another drug to treat pain has become popular: dexketoprofen or Enantyum. In this article we will explain what Enantyum is for and how it differs from other pain relievers.

What is Enantyum (dexketoprofen)?

"Dexketoprofen" is the generic name for Enantyum, an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever medicine that is taken by mouth or in gel format and used to treat headaches, menstrual pain and muscle inflammation, among others problems. It is also marketed under other names, such as "Stadium" and "Keral" in Mexico or "Ketesgel" in Spain.

Dexketoprofen inhibits prostaglandin synthesis, substances derived from fatty acids that play an important role in various biological processes: inflammation, gastric mucus secretion, smooth muscle contraction, regulation of body temperature and pressure arterial. Also, prostaglandins influence the sensation of pain, which is related to its inflammatory effect.

What are the effects?

Enantyum, such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen and Voltarén (diclofenac), is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (“NSAID”). NSAIDs relieve symptoms related to inflammation, pain and fever, so they are used frequently after undergoing surgery or receiving certain types of stings, for example.

In comparison, the steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs derived from cortisol and cortisone, which were used more a few decades ago, appear to have more serious side effects if taken for a long time, especially for the stomach, intestines, liver, heart and kidneys.

However, these effects, especially digestive ones, can also occur when taking dexketoprofen and other NSAIDs because by inhibiting the Prostaglandins not only reduce inflammation and pain, but also hinder the formation of gastric mucus, which protects the stomach from Gastric acid.

Differences from other medications

Compared to other pain relievers such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen, Enantyum can be considered more specific for muscle, joint, menstrual and dental pain. While it is also useful for other types of pain, its use is not as general as that of other drugs.

Likewise, Enantyum is more aggressive than other NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen, Aspirin or Voltarén; This means that its main side effects, those of a gastrointestinal nature, are superior to those of the rest of the medicines mentioned.

The way dexketoprofen is superior is that it works faster than other pain relievers. However, its effect has a shorter duration.

What types of pain is it for?

Consuming Enantyum can be useful for a wide variety of pain of mild or moderate intensity, as long as it is under medical supervision. Some of the problems this medicine is used for are listed below.

1. Muscular (myalgia)

The anti-inflammatory effect of dexketoprofen is effective in reducing muscle discomfortsuch as those caused by stress, injury, shock, or overload. These are problems that appear relatively frequently when maintaining poor body posture, exerting yourself, etc. In this case, dexketoprofen gel may be recommended.

2. Menstrual (dysmenorrhea)

Period pain can cause fatigue, anxiety, nausea and even fainting.. The treatment of menstrual pain is one of the most cited examples when talking about the benefits of Enantyum.

3. Of joints (arthralgia)

Knee pain, sprains, arthritis, tendonitis, or bursitis are some examples of joint pain that can be relieved with this medicine. In the same way, in people who in their day to day spend many hours sitting in an office environment, the dolls also They may become resentful and, although it is preferable to change habits, this medicine can relieve discomfort momentarily.

4. Head (headache)

Dexketoprofen can be used to combat mild headaches and migraines associated with muscle tension. Similarly, it is helpful in alleviating hangover symptoms.

• Related article: "The 7 types of migraine (causes and characteristics)"

5. Tooth pain (toothache)

Among these kinds of pains, Toothache is often cited as one of the problems for which it is most effective to take Enantyum.

6. Back, lumbar and cervical pain

These pains can be caused by a variety of causes including muscle and joint problems and herniated discs. They are usually recurring complaints, prone to appear and disappear over several days, and it is It is preferable to act on the posture and movements learned than to attend to the problem with medicines.

7. Stomach and intestines (gastralgia)

Although Enantyum is useful for most pain, it must be taken into account that among the effects secondary that are more likely to appear are disturbances of the intestine and stomach, so that may make gastrointestinal upset worse for some people.

How to take this drug?

First of all, it should be mentioned that Enantyum should not be consumed without a prescription. It is very important to take this into account, even if we believe that the symptoms experienced are the same as those that appeared in the past in a case where the doctor prescribed this product.

There are several ways to take this medicine. The most common is in the form of oral tablets, preferably with water and together with meals to reduce the risk of side effects in the digestive system. It can also be purchased in drinkable or injectable ampoules.

When given orally, either in tablets or dissolved in water, the recommended dose is 25 mg. The granulated Enantyum (in sachets) can be consumed in a somewhat higher dose. It should be taken at most once every 8 hours, that is, no more than three doses a day.

Enantyum gel, which is marketed in Spain as "Ketesgel", is applied directly to the part of the body where pain is felt. It is normally used for muscle aches.

Side effects

The most common side effects of this medicine are stomach pain, digestive disorders (such as indigestion and diarrhea), nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. These effects occur in 1 to 10% of the people who take it, in the vast majority of cases they disappear when they stop consuming the drug.

Other less common side effects (between 0.1 and 1% of people) include feeling dizzy, sleep disturbances such as drowsiness and insomnia, tiredness, nervousness, headache, fever and chills, palpitations, constipation and gases.

Contraindications

Due to its potentially harmful effects on the digestive, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as the liver and kidneys, taking Enantyum u is not recommended. other NSAIDs to people who have diseases related to these organs, such as heart, kidney or liver failure, asthma, gastrointestinal ulcer or disease of the Crohn.

Enantyum is also contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation, due to the risk that substances in unwanted quantities pass to the child and affect their development in this delicate stage. In addition, they should also avoid using it those people who have hypersensitivity to NSAIDs (Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Voltarén, etc.).

Dexketoprofen should not be mixed with alcohol, other anti-inflammatories or analgesics, anticoagulants, or with other specific drugs such as lithium, metroxate, sulfamethoxazole or some medicines used to treat epilepsy.

Bibliographic references:

• Flórez, J. (2001). Human pharmacology. 4th edition, Editorial Masson-Salvat Medicine.
• Katzung, B. (2005). Basic and clinical pharmacology. The Modern Manual, MEXICO DF or Santa Fe de Bogotá. 9th edition.