Firocoxib
3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)-5,5-dimethyl-4-(4-methylsulfonyl) phenylfuran-2(5H)-one
También conocido como: Previcox · Equioxx · ML-1,785,713 · Firocoxibum
Revisado por el equipo veterinario de VetSheetActualizado 5 abr 2026Referencia veterinaria basada en la evidencia
Las dosis son una referencia clínica para profesionales veterinarios autorizados. Confirme siempre con el prospecto actual y cada paciente individual.
Dosis por especie
🌎 NA — North America🌍 EU — Europe
Perros
| Indicación | Dosis | Vía | Frecuencia | Duración | Región |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis | 5 mg/kg (2.27 mg/lb) | PO | once daily | — | 🌎 NA |
| Pain and inflammation (osteoarthritis, surgery) | 5 mg/kg | PO | q24h | As directed (monitor carefully if >90 days) | 🌍 EU |
- Control of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis: Dosage should be calculated in half tablet increments and can be administered with or without food.
- Pain and inflammation (osteoarthritis, surgery): Give with or without food. For perioperative pain, give the first dose 2 hours before surgery.
Gatos
| Indicación | Dosis | Vía | Frecuencia | Duración | Región |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experimentally induced pyrexia (Unapproved/Investigational) | 0.75-3 mg/kg | PO | single dose | single dose | 🌎 NA |
| Contraindicated | Do not use | PO | N/A | N/A | 🌍 EU |
- Experimentally induced pyrexia (Unapproved/Investigational): Caution: While firocoxib may ultimately be shown to be safe for use in cats, supporting information (or FDA approval) is not currently available for it to be recommended.
- Contraindicated: Strictly contraindicated in cats.
Caballos
| Indicación | Dosis | Vía | Frecuencia | Duración | Región |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis | 0.1 mg/kg (0.045 mg/lb) body weight | PO | daily | up to 14 days | 🌎 NA |
Las dosis son una referencia clínica para profesionales veterinarios autorizados. Confirme siempre con el prospecto actual y cada paciente individual.
Resumen
El firocoxib es un fármaco antiinflamatorio no esteroideo (AINE) altamente selectivo que pertenece a la clase de los coxib.
- Uso principal: Manejo del dolor y la inflamación asociados con la osteoartritis en perros y caballos.
- Uso quirúrgico: Control del dolor y la inflamación postoperatorios asociados con la cirugía ortopédica en perros.
- Nota clínica: Como inhibidor selectivo de la COX-2, está diseñado para proporcionar una analgesia robusta mientras minimiza los efectos secundarios gastrointestinales y renales comúnmente observados con los AINE no selectivos. Curiosamente, el firocoxib también ha demostrado potencial actividad antitumoral, particularmente en neoplasias que expresan COX-2, y puede tener un papel en la oncología veterinaria.
Mecanismo de acción
Firocoxib exerts its analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory effects by selectively inhibiting the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme.
- Cellular Membrane Phospholipids → Arachidonic Acid → COX-2 → Pro-inflammatory Prostaglandins (e.g., PGE2).
- By blocking this pathway, firocoxib reduces vasodilation, tissue edema, and sensitization of nociceptors.
- COX-1 Sparing: At therapeutic doses, it predominantly spares the COX-1 enzyme, which is constitutively expressed and responsible for synthesizing cytoprotective prostaglandins that maintain gastrointestinal mucosal integrity, renal blood flow, and platelet function.
Seguridad y advertencias
Contraindicaciones
- Hypersensitivity to firocoxib or other NSAIDs
- Active GI ulcerative conditions (relative contraindication)
- Bleeding disorders or thrombocytopenia (relative contraindication)
- Dogs weighing less than 7 lbs
- Puppies less than 7 months old (US labeling) or less than 10 weeks old (UK labeling)
- Horses less than 1 year old
- Breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs or horses (safety not established)
- Cats
- Dogs < 10 weeks of age or < 3 kg body weight
- Pregnant or lactating bitches
- Dehydrated, hypovolaemic, or hypotensive patients
- Patients with pre-existing gastrointestinal disease or bleeding
- Patients with blood clotting disorders
Efectos adversos
- Dogs: Vomiting, decreased appetite/anorexia, diarrhea, melena, GI ulcers, bloody vomiting, GI perforation
- Dogs: Increases in BUN, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and ALT
- Dogs: Depression/lethargy, ataxia
- Horses: Diarrhea/loose stools, mouth ulcers, facial skin lesions, excitation (rare)
- Gastrointestinal signs (vomiting, diarrhea, inappetence)
- Gastrointestinal ulceration or bleeding
- Renal toxicity (especially during hypotensive states)
- Hepatotoxicity (rare, but liver disease prolongs metabolism)
Precauciones
Important Washout Period: If changing from one NSAID to another, a washout period is required. A 24-hour washout is often recommended between COX-2 selective agents, but 72 hours to 1 week is usually recommended when switching from a non-selective NSAID or aspirin.
- Use with caution and enhanced monitoring in patients with pre-existing renal, hepatic, or cardiovascular dysfunction.
- Use with caution in patients that are dehydrated, hypovolemic, hypotensive, or on concomitant diuretic therapy due to increased risk of renal toxicity.
- Geriatric patients require ongoing monitoring due to naturally reduced renal function.
- Puppy Toxicity: Doses above the recommended 5 mg/kg in puppies less than 7 months old have been associated with serious adverse reactions, including hepatic fatty changes and death.
Interacciones farmacológicas
Some NSAIDs can reduce effects on blood pressure
May increase the risk of gastrointestinal toxicity (ulceration, bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea)
May increase the risk of gastrointestinal toxicity (ulceration, bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea)
NSAIDs may increase serum levels
Administration has increased plasma levels of celecoxib in humans and potentially could also affect firocoxib levels in dogs
NSAIDs may reduce the saluretic and diuretic effects
May displace other highly bound drugs or be displaced by them, potentially increasing serum levels, duration of action, and toxicity
Serious toxicity has occurred when NSAIDs have been used concomitantly; use together with extreme caution
May enhance the risk of nephrotoxicity development
Increased risk of severe gastrointestinal ulceration and renal toxicity. A 3-5 day wash-out period is required.
Synergistic gastrointestinal toxicity leading to severe ulceration or perforation.
Increased risk of nephrotoxicity.
Potential synergistic efficacy in treating transitional cell carcinomas.
Increased risk of gastrointestinal ulceration and bleeding.
Increased risk of nephrotoxicity.
Monitorización
- Baseline and periodic physical exam including clinical efficacy and adverse effect queries
- Baseline and periodic CBC
- Baseline and periodic liver function tests
- Baseline and periodic renal function tests and electrolytes
- Baseline and periodic urinalysis
- Clinical signs of GI toxicity (vomiting, diarrhea, melena, anorexia)
- Renal parameters (BUN, Creatinine, USG) especially in older dogs or long-term use
- Hepatic enzymes (ALT, ALP, Bilirubin) prior to and during long-term therapy
- Hydration status and blood pressure (especially perioperatively)
Farmacocinética
Vida media
Absorción
Dogs: Oral bioavailability is ~38% (chewable tablets). Food delays but does not affect the amount absorbed. Peak levels occur at 1 hour (fasted) or 5 hours (fed). Horses: Oral bioavailability is ~79% (paste). Peak levels occur 4-12 hours post-dose. Cats: Oral bioavailability is ~60% (suspension).
Distribución
Dogs: Vd is ~3 L/kg; 96% bound to plasma proteins. Horses: Vd is 1.7-2.3 L/kg; 98% bound to plasma proteins. Cats: Vd is 2-3 L/kg.
Metabolismo
Dogs: Biotransformation occurs predominantly via dealkylation and glucuronidation in the liver. Horses: Biotransformation occurs primarily via decyclopropylmethylation and then glucuronidation.
Eliminación
Dogs: Elimination is principally in the bile and feces. Horses: Metabolites are primarily excreted in the urine.
Sobredosis
Limited information is available for acute overdoses in animals. The reported oral LD50 for rats is > 2 grams per kg.
- Management: Should an overdose occur, contacting an animal poison control center or the manufacturer is highly recommended.
- Treatment: Use of gut emptying protocols and supportive treatment (IV fluids, oral sucralfate, GI protectants) may be useful in managing the case.
Productos disponibles
Formulaciones
- Chewable tablets
- Oral paste
- 57 mg oral tablet
- 227 mg oral tablet
Veterinario
- Firocoxib Chewable Tablets (scored): 57 mg & 227 mg; Previcox (Merial)
- Firocoxib Oral Paste: 0.82% w/w (8.2 mg firocoxib per gram of paste) in a 6.93 gram oral syringe; Equioxx (Merial)
- Previcox 57 mg chewable tablets
- Previcox 227 mg chewable tablets
Estado regulador
POM-V classification.
POM-V classification.
Sin datos reguladores para: 🇺🇸 US · 🇭🇰 HK · 🇹🇼 TW · 🇯🇵 JP · 🇰🇷 KR · 🇦🇺 AU
Almacenamiento y estabilidad
Commercially available tablets and oral paste should be stored at room temperature (15-30°C); brief excursions are permitted up to 40°C (104°F).
Información para el cliente
- Administración: Puede administrarse con o sin comida. Si se producen molestias estomacales, administrarlo con una comida puede ayudar.
- Qué observar (Perros): Suspenda la medicación y contacte a su veterinario inmediatamente si nota vómitos, disminución del apetito/pérdida de peso, diarrea o heces blandas, cambios en el comportamiento o la actividad, cambios en el consumo de agua o la micción, o coloración amarillenta en el blanco de los ojos o las membranas mucosas (ictericia).
- Qué observar (Caballos): Contacte a su veterinario si el paciente desarrolla úlceras o llagas en la lengua o en la boca, llagas o lesiones en la piel facial o los labios, diarrea/heces blandas, o cambios en el consumo de alimento/agua.
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Advertencia de seguridad: NUNCA administre a su mascota analgésicos humanos (como Advil, Tylenol o Aspirina) u otros AINE veterinarios mientras esté tomando firocoxib, ya que esto puede causar úlceras estomacales fatales o insuficiencia renal.
La referencia de medicamentos de VetSheet está destinada a profesionales veterinarios autorizados como ayuda para la toma de decisiones clínicas, no como sustituto del criterio profesional ni del prospecto actual del fabricante.