Emfenac-P: Complete Guide to Aceclofenac and Paracetamol

Emfenac-P is a fixed-dose combination tablet marketed in India by EMK Omni Pharma, Mysuru. Each uncoated tablet contains Aceclofenac IP 100 mg and Paracetamol IP 325 mg, along with approved excipients. It is supplied in a pack of 10 x 10 tablets and belongs to the pain management category.

EMK Omni Pharma markets Emfenac-P rather than manufacturing it in-house. The tablets are produced at GMP-certified contract manufacturing units and released against the quality standards of the Indian Pharmacopoeia.

Emfenac-P is a prescription medicine. The pack carries the standard caution: not to be sold by retail without the prescription of a registered medical practitioner. That is not a formality. Aceclofenac belongs to a drug class that needs medical judgement about your stomach, kidneys, heart and other medicines before it is started.

Aceclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, usually shortened to NSAID. Injured or irritated tissue releases chemical messengers called prostaglandins, which make nerve endings more sensitive and drive swelling, redness and warmth. Aceclofenac reduces the production of these messengers by acting on the cyclo-oxygenase enzymes. Less prostaglandin generally means less swelling and a lower level of pain signalling from the affected joint, muscle or tooth.

Paracetamol works differently. Its main action is thought to be within the central nervous system, where it raises the threshold at which pain is felt and helps the brain's temperature centre bring a raised temperature down. It has very little anti-inflammatory effect of its own and is gentler on the stomach lining than an NSAID.

Because the two act through different routes, doctors sometimes prefer the pair when a patient has pain with both an inflammatory component and fever or general body ache. The idea is complementary action, not a stronger version of one drug.

The MRP printed on the pack is the maximum a chemist may charge. Always check the batch number and expiry date on the strip before you leave the pharmacy counter.

Doctors reach for an aceclofenac and paracetamol combination when a patient needs short-term relief from pain that has an inflammatory element. Typical situations include joint pain and stiffness, muscle pain, back pain, dental pain after a procedure, sprains and strains, and pain linked to injury. It is also prescribed where fever accompanies body ache.

It is not suitable for everyone. People with a history of stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding, significant kidney or liver disease, uncontrolled blood pressure, established heart disease, asthma triggered by painkillers, or a known allergy to NSAIDs need a careful review before any aceclofenac product is prescribed. Pregnancy, particularly the later months, and breastfeeding also need specialist advice.

The usual approach with this class of medicine is the lowest dose that helps, for the shortest period that is needed. Your doctor decides the dose, the spacing between tablets and the duration.

This hub links to ten companion articles, each answering a different set of questions.

Speak to your prescriber before starting if you have ever had a stomach ulcer, indigestion that needed treatment, kidney or liver trouble, heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, or a reaction to any painkiller. Mention every other medicine you take, including over-the-counter cold and flu sachets, because many of them already contain paracetamol.

Contact a doctor promptly during treatment if you notice black or tarry stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, severe stomach pain, yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, a marked drop in the amount of urine you pass, swelling of the face or ankles, breathlessness, or a spreading rash with blisters. If pain or fever has not settled within the period your doctor expected, go back for review rather than continuing on your own.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice from a registered medical practitioner.