Clof

Quick links to important sections

Medically reviewed

Rosario Oropesa

Last updated on 22/12/2025

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Clof

Property Description
Active Ingredient Aceclofenac
Pharmaceutical Form Film-coated tablet
Pharmacological Class Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
General Purpose Pain and inflammation relief
Origin Synthetic (Phenylacetic acid derivative)

What Type of Medicine is Clof? (Classification and Core Identity)

The pharmaceutical product Clof is a proprietary name for the active chemical substance Aceclofenac, which is officially classified as a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID). This classification identifies it as an effective analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent. Chemically, Aceclofenac is a synthetic compound categorized as a phenylacetic acid derivative, structurally developed as an analogue of the established NSAID, Diclofenac. The drug belongs to the broader group of antirheumatic products, and its use in managing chronic musculoskeletal discomfort is clinically recognized across various international pharmacopeias.

Composition, Origin, and Pharmaceutical Form

The medicine’s identity is centered entirely on its sole active ingredient, Aceclofenac, making it a single-ingredient product. Aceclofenac is prescribed for adult patient groups and is typically presented as a solid, film-coated tablet intended for oral administration. The film-coated characteristic of the tablet is a distinctive feature designed to facilitate ease of swallowing and ensure proper delivery of the compound. The final preparation consists of the active substance integrated with necessary solid pharmaceutical excipients, which ensure stability and proper systemic absorption, a property supported by pharmacological studies.

General Purpose: What Does Clof Help to Relieve?

The primary purpose of this NSAID is to provide general pain relief and reduce symptoms associated with inflammation. It is typically used for relief scenarios characterized by inflammatory pain, such as temporary musculoskeletal discomfort. The drug achieves this by interfering with the body's natural production of chemical signals called prostaglandins, which are key messengers that mediate pain and inflammation. This biochemical intervention provides a reliable anti-inflammatory effect that helps ease swelling and the associated tenderness.

Regulatory References

  1. Aceclofenac Regulatory Update (MHRA/UK)

What side effects are possible with Clof?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

The safety profile of Clof is formally structured by government regulatory agencies (such as the EMA and FDA) based on clinical data and post-marketing surveillance.

Adverse Reaction Scope

Adverse reactions are formally categorized by the frequency with which they occur and by the System Organ Class (SOC) affected, such as gastrointestinal, nervous system, and skin.

Frequency Classification Examples of Documented Reactions
Common (Reported ge 1/100 to <1/10) Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, headache, heartburn.
Uncommon to Rare Skin rash, dizziness, blurred vision, or drowsiness.

Serious Adverse Reactions

The regulatory labeling documents rare but clinically significant adverse reactions, which may include serious gastrointestinal events such as ulcers or bleeding, severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis, severe skin allergies), and cardiovascular events like an increased risk of heart attack with long-term use. Other serious risks noted include damage to the kidneys and liver.

Population-Specific Safety Considerations

The medicine is subject to specific constraints for certain populations, including a risk of harm to the developing baby, making it unsafe to use during pregnancy unless the benefit clearly outweighs the risk. Use is also restricted or advised with extreme caution in patients with severe kidney or liver disease, a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding, and certain pre-existing heart conditions.

Safety-Related Restrictions and Monitoring

Official documents advise that due to effects such as dizziness or blurred vision, the medicine may impair the ability to drive or operate machinery. Long-term use requires mandatory monitoring of liver function and kidney function to mitigate potential chronic organ damage. The presence of allergic symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or severe skin reactions, requires immediate cessation of the drug as directed in the label.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help

Overdose with Clofibrate (Clof) is defined by official regulatory documentation as an acute medical event requiring immediate attention, based on the presentation of specific, potentially severe symptoms. This information is derived strictly from government-authorized patient and prescribing resources (such as those from the FDA and EMA) and does not include clinical interpretation or advice.

Documented Overdose Symptoms

The following physiological signs and symptoms have been officially documented as manifestations of Clof overdose:

  • Gastrointestinal: Severe stomach pain, accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
  • Systemic/Constitutional: Fever, chills, sore throat, or a general flu-like feeling.
  • Musculoskeletal: Muscle cramps, muscle weakness, muscle aches, or muscle pain, along with joint pain.
  • Renal/Urinary: Blood in the urine or a notable decrease in the amount of urine; swelling of the ankles or legs.

Emergency Action Required

Official regulatory labeling is explicit regarding the need for immediate professional medical intervention. An overdose situation with Clof is uniformly classified as an event requiring emergency action.

When to Seek Immediate Help:

  • If an overdosage is suspected, or if any of the above-documented symptoms are observed, the most important directive is to seek emergency medical attention immediately.
  • Contacting a certified poison control center is also an explicit instruction provided in official overdose information.

Therapeutic Uses of Clof

What Clof Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Clof is generally applied across therapeutic domains where additional symptomatic support is needed to address both chronic and acute discomfort. Regarding the active ingredient Aceclofenac, it is commonly used across conditions presenting with systemic or localized discomfort.

The medication is considered relevant in conditions involving episodic or fluctuating manifestations such as Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Ankylosing Spondylitis, as well as in acute settings like post-traumatic pain, postoperative discomfort, and dental discomfort. Clof helps address symptom clusters that may appear suddenly or intensify over time, including joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Quick Fact: Relief for Joint Pain Clof is commonly used to help with symptoms related to inflammatory or irritative states that create noticeable physiological strain in joints and surrounding tissues.

“This supportive use helps patients cope with symptom fluctuations and assists with functional comfort.”

The medication may provide support that helps ease the overall symptom burden and contributes to comfort during symptomatic periods.

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Eligibility and Restrictions for Clof

The use of Clof (clofarabine) is narrowly defined by regulatory documents and is limited to specific patient groups and clinical circumstances.

Population Status Official Regulatory Guidance
Eligible Population Pediatric patients and young adults 1 to 21 years old with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who have failed at least two prior treatment regimens.
Contraindicated Use is contraindicated in patients with severe renal insufficiency or severe hepatic impairment. Use is also contraindicated during breast-feeding.
Use Not Established Safety and effectiveness have not been established in adults (patients over 21 years old).

Special Considerations

Condition-Specific Constraints: The medicine requires dose reduction for patients with renal impairment (creatinine clearance between 30 and 60 mL/min). Close monitoring of organ function, including the liver and kidneys, is required for all patients during treatment.

Pregnancy: Clof can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Females of reproductive potential must be advised to avoid becoming pregnant during treatment and for a specified period afterward, due to the risk of embryo-fetal toxicity.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Clof Interactions with other medicines and products

Official regulatory information outlines several clinically significant interactions with Clofibrate (Clof), primarily involving pharmacodynamic potentiation and risks of adverse effects.

Interaction Type Interacting Medicines/Classes Practical Implication
Pharmacodynamic Potentiation Coumarin Anticoagulants (e.g., Warfarin) Requires reduction of the anticoagulant dose and frequent INR monitoring.
Additive Risk HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins), Other Fibrates (e.g., Ciprofibrate) Contraindicated or not recommended due to increased risk of muscle toxicity (myopathy, rhabdomyolysis).
Absorption Interference Bile-Acid Binding Resins (e.g., Cholestyramine) Requires a time separation between administrations (e.g., 1 hour before or 4–6 hours after the resin).

The official interaction profile strictly notes that combining Clof with other fibrates is generally not recommended. The use with statins is permitted only with extreme caution due to the serious, additive risk of muscle disorders. Population-specific notes specify that the risk of myopathy is increased in the elderly and those with renal impairment when combined with interacting agents. Regulatory documents mandate careful dose adjustment and frequent monitoring for co-administered anticoagulants due to enhanced effects.

Mechanism of Action

The Molecular Mechanism of Clof

The action of Clof (Aceclofenac) is the competitive inhibition of the Cyclooxygenase-2 ( COX-2) enzyme. This enzyme is crucial for the biosynthesis of prostaglandins, which are lipid mediators that initiate or enhance inflammatory responses. The molecule acts as a prodrug, meaning it is rapidly converted in the body to highly active compounds, contributing to the inhibitory action on this pathway.

By blocking COX-2, the drug directly interrupts the Arachidonic Acid Cascade, leading to a sharp decrease in the concentration of Prostaglandin E2 ( PGE2) in affected tissues and centrally. This molecular step initiates changes in specific physiological responses: locally, it decreases vascular permeability, which affects fluid accumulation in tissues; centrally, it suppresses PGE2 production in the hypothalamus, altering the thermoregulatory set point.

The action involves only the modulation of signaling molecules and is achieved by temporarily interfering with the body's signaling pathways. The mechanism suppresses inflammatory signaling and leads to a lowered threshold for activation of nociceptive nerves. This focused mechanism does not influence the activity of pathways governing disease pathology or tissue regeneration.

Dosage and Administration Information

How to use Clof

The medicine Clof, which contains the active substance Aceclofenac, is designated for oral administration as a 100 mg film-coated tablet. This pharmaceutical form requires that the tablet be swallowed whole with an adequate amount of liquid and must not be crushed or chewed to ensure proper use.

The standard adult dosing regimen involves taking 100 mg twice daily, typically once in the morning and once in the evening, with the total daily dose not exceeding the 200 mg maximum. Clof is generally administered for the shortest duration necessary to provide symptomatic control.

The timing of administration is flexible; the tablet may be taken with or after food, as this affects the rate, but not the overall extent, of its absorption. In specific patient populations, dosage modifications are necessary. For instance, in adults with hepatic impairment, the standard frequency is reduced, with the total daily dose established as 100 mg once per day. Use in children and adolescents under 18 years is generally not recommended due to insufficient clinical data to support a defined use protocol in this age group.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research evidence / Overview of Studies for Clof

Evidence for use in Chronic Inflammatory Joint Conditions (Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Ankylosing Spondylitis)

Clinical evaluation for Clof in chronic joint conditions was conducted using Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and subsequent systematic reviews to examine how symptoms change over defined time intervals. Clof was evaluated for use in conditions such as Osteoarthritis (OA), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), and Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). These studies primarily monitored adult patients. Researchers examined outcomes related to physical discomfort, including pain intensity scores, and outcomes reflecting daily functioning or activity level, measured through standardized functional indexes.

In studies related to OA, research highlights changes measured during the study period, particularly in joint pain and stiffness over observation periods typically lasting between 4 and 12 weeks. Comparative studies reported patterns observed that were related to those described for other anti-inflammatory medicines in the OA research context. Research describes scenarios related to short-term symptom patterns rather than the long-term course of the disease. Furthermore, evidence quality varies across studies due to differences in trial design, meaning findings for every measured outcome are not always entirely consistent across all available reports.


Evidence for use in Acute Pain and Low Back Pain

Clof was evaluated in short-term research exploring episodic or acute changes in pain, such as acute uncomplicated low back discomfort, or pain following dental procedures or minor trauma. This research examined outcomes describing episodic or acute changes in pain intensity and the need for additional pain relief over a defined time interval.

Findings describe patterns observed in these studies where pain measurements evolved over the short-term study periods. Studies monitored outcomes linked to physical discomfort when compared against certain other standard short-acting pain relievers. However, because these studies focused on acute episodes, the follow-up durations were limited. There is limited information for long-term outcomes for Clof specifically in the context of pain that might transition to subacute or chronic.


What is Still Uncertain in the Research Landscape

Several research gaps and limitations remain in the evidence base for Clof. The primary limitation is the focus on short-term efficacy, meaning that the long-term outcomes are not fully established, particularly concerning usage extending beyond six months to a year. This also means that long-term outcomes are not well characterized in terms of sustained assessment. Furthermore, data for certain groups remain insufficient, including patients under 18 years old or those within comorbidity-defined groups. The available evidence contributes to understanding short-term symptom patterns, but it is important to remember that study results reflect the specific conditions under which they were conducted and research provides context but not individual predictions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Clof (FAQ)

Q: What is Clof used for?

Clof is officially indicated for the treatment of certain types of bacterial infections, including those affecting the skin, lungs, and urinary tract. According to regulatory documents, it belongs to a class of medications known as antibiotics. Its purpose is to stop the growth of or kill the specific bacteria causing the infection.


Q: Can Clof be taken with food?

Official product information indicates that Clof can be taken with or without food. Regulatory documents note the importance of maintaining consistent dosing conditions, which may relate to timing with food, for steady absorption. The specific formulation's official leaflet should be consulted for detailed instructions.


Q: If I feel better, should I stop taking Clof?

Official product information emphasizes the importance of finishing the full course of therapy prescribed by a healthcare professional. Stopping treatment early may increase the risk of the infection returning and can also contribute to antibiotic resistance. Completing the prescribed duration is intended to help fully clear the infection and minimize the risk of recurrence.


Q: What should I do if I miss a dose of Clof?

If a dose of Clof is forgotten, the regulatory guidance is typically to take it when remembered, provided it is not close to the time for the next dose. If the next dose is due soon, the missed dose is usually skipped, and the regular schedule is continued. It is specified that patients should not take two doses at once to compensate for a missed dose.


Q: Does Clof affect how I drive or use machines?

Studies and official information indicate that Clof may cause side effects such as dizziness, confusion, or visual disturbances in some people. If these effects occur, they may impair the ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Official labeling recommends caution, and individuals should observe how the medication impacts them before performing tasks requiring focus.

How should Clof be stored and disposed of?

The official storage and disposal guidelines for Clof (Aceclofenac film-coated tablets) are strictly governed by regulatory documentation to maintain the product's stability and ensure safety.

Mandatory Storage Conditions

Clof must be stored in a dry place at a temperature not exceeding 30 C and should not be refrigerated or frozen. The medicine must be protected from light and moisture; therefore, it is a mandatory requirement to keep the tablets in the original, tightly closed package.

Safety and Disposal

For household safety, it is officially required to keep Clof out of the sight and reach of children.

Disposal of unused or expired tablets must follow local pharmaceutical waste regulations. The medicine should be returned to an authorized drug take-back location if available. It is a mandated environmental protection rule not to throw Clof into wastewater (e.g., sink or toilet).

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

Available in countries:

Equivalent of Clof found in:

A-Z Index: