Ecena

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Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 10/01/2026

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 Ecena

Quick Facts

Property Description
Active Ingredient Aceclofenac
Form Oral Tablet
Pharmacological Class Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
Common Use Reduction of pain and swelling
Origin Synthetic (Chemically manufactured)

What Type of Drug is Ecena?

Ecena is the non-proprietary name for a medicine whose active ingredient is Aceclofenac, which belongs to the widely recognized class of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).

Aceclofenac is a synthetic compound, meaning it is manufactured chemically, and is indicated for use in rheumatic disorders. The compound is often categorized as a second-generation NSAID, noted for its targeted anti-inflammatory properties. This classification indicates the medicine is designed to effectively manage the inflammation underlying various types of musculoskeletal discomfort.

What is Ecena Made Of and What Form Does It Take?

Ecena is commonly supplied as an oral tablet designed for systemic absorption, meaning the active ingredient is delivered through the digestive system to affect the entire body.

The tablets contain the single active ingredient, Aceclofenac, along with various inactive ingredients necessary for the tablet's structure and stability. Its primary route of administration is oral. As an oral form, it provides a convenient method for delivering a standardized, consistent dose intended for internal use.

What is the General Purpose of Ecena?

The general purpose of Ecena is to help reduce the key symptoms of inflammation, specifically pain and swelling.

This function is central to its pharmacological class. By acting against the underlying inflammatory response, the medicine aims to alleviate discomfort and improve mobility. Aceclofenac is classified as a peripheral analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent, confirming that its main therapeutic action is to provide pain relief by actively reducing inflammation.

Regulatory References

  1. European Medicines Agency official website

What side effects are possible with Ecena?

Official Safety Profile and Documented Adverse Reactions

The safety profile for Ecena (Aceclofenac) is classified by regulatory authorities based on both the affected System-Organ Class and the frequency of occurrence, reflecting data gathered from clinical use. All reported adverse reactions are defined according to standardized regulatory frameworks.

Frequency Classification of Documented Effects

The most frequently reported effects are classified as Common (1/100 to <1/10 patients) and include gastrointestinal symptoms such as dyspepsia, abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhoea, along with dizziness. Uncommon effects (1/1,000 to <1/100) include flatulence, vomiting, rash, and pruritus. Rare and Very Rare classifications cover less frequent, but sometimes more serious, events.

Frequency Category Representative Documented Effects
Common Nausea, Dyspepsia, Abdominal pain, Diarrhoea, Dizziness
Uncommon Flatulence, Vomiting, Rash, Pruritus

Serious Adverse Reactions

The medicine is associated with a risk of serious adverse gastrointestinal events, including ulceration, bleeding, and perforation, which may occur at any point during treatment. Additionally, non-aspirin NSAIDs may be linked to an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, such as myocardial infarction and stroke, which is noted to increase with the duration of use.

Population-Specific Safety Notes

Official prescribing information notes that the risk of serious adverse reactions, especially gastrointestinal bleeding, is higher in older adults. Caution is also specified for patients with pre-existing conditions, including mild to moderate congestive heart failure, hypertension, and renal or hepatic impairment. The drug is formally restricted (contraindicated) for individuals with severe organ failure or active gastrointestinal haemorrhage or ulceration.

Overdose and Emergency Response

The official regulatory documents define an Ecena (Aceclofenac) overdose by a profile of documented systemic and organ-specific toxicity. Manifestations commonly listed include gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, along with central nervous system effects like dizziness, headache, and somnolence. Severe outcomes can involve major organ failure, specifically acute renal failure, hepatic failure, and pancreatitis. Other serious life-threatening complications that may occur include convulsions, hypotension, and respiratory depression.

Due to the potential for these severe outcomes, immediate medical attention must be sought for any suspected overexposure. Contacting emergency services is mandated when serious symptoms, such as signs of systemic instability or severe organ toxicity, are present.

The regulatory documents confirm that no specific antidote is known for Ecena overdose. Management is constrained to symptomatic and supportive treatment, which may include procedural measures such as gastric lavage or the administration of activated charcoal. Continuous observation is required for complications, particularly in vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those with pre-existing renal, cardiac, or liver impairment, who face an increased risk of severe consequences.

Therapeutic Uses of Ecena

What Ecena Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

The primary therapeutic role of Ecena is to provide symptomatic relief and supportive assistance in clinical situations where symptoms related to physical discomfort and functional limitations may be driven by underlying inflammatory or irritative states. It is commonly used to help moderate distressing manifestations across several key therapeutic areas.

Ecena is used in conditions presenting with systemic or localized discomfort, including Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and for relief in acute episodes such as certain types of gynaecological discomfort or dental pain.

Quick Fact: Relief for Inflammatory Discomfort

Property Description
Therapeutic Focus Aims to help with symptoms related to physical discomfort
Common Contexts Conditions involving episodic or fluctuating manifestations
Benefit Focus Supports functional stability and overall comfort

Ecena is relevant in clinical settings marked by increased discomfort or tension, such as during flare-ups of chronic conditions. The medication assists with maintaining functional stability by managing symptoms related to the physical consequences of inflammation, namely joint swelling and stiffness. This supports a more manageable range of motion and helps patients cope more steadily with symptom fluctuations that interfere with routine activities.

“The support contributes to easing symptoms that interfere with physical function and helps maintain a more manageable experience of day-to-day comfort.”

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Who Can and Cannot Use Ecena?

The population eligibility for Ecena (Aceclofenac) is strictly governed by regulatory classifications, primarily defining absolute contraindications and conditional use populations.

Absolute Non-Eligibility (Contraindications)

Ecena must not be used by patients with established severe hepatic impairment (liver failure) or severe renal impairment (kidney failure). Use is also strictly prohibited in individuals with established Congestive Heart Failure (NYHA Class II-IV), Ischaemic Heart Disease, or Cerebrovascular Disease. It is contraindicated for those with active or a history of recurrent peptic ulcers, active bleeding disorders, or known hypersensitivity to any NSAID.

Age and Physiological Restrictions

Population Group Regulatory Status
Children & Adolescents (<18) Not recommended; use not established
Pregnancy (3rd Trimester) Contraindicated
Lactation (Breastfeeding) Not recommended
Older Adults (Geriatrics) Use with caution; lowest dose required

Conditional Use Requirements

Caution is required for patients with mild to moderate hepatic or renal impairment, or those with a history of Gastrointestinal disease such as Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s disease. These populations may require close medical surveillance.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Ecena (Aceclofenac) interacts with several medicinal products, with official documentation specifying interaction patterns that affect the safety and efficacy of co-administered substances.

Documented Interaction Patterns

  • Prohibited Combinations and Additive Risk: The co-administration of Ecena with other NSAIDs, including cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitors, should be avoided because this combination significantly increases the official risk of adverse events. An elevated risk of gastrointestinal bleeding is also documented when Ecena is co-administered with anticoagulants, anti-platelet agents, corticosteroids, and SSRIs.

  • Altered Exposure of Co-administered Medicines: Ecena can interfere with the elimination of certain medicines, which may lead to increased plasma exposure and toxicity. This is formally documented for substances such as Lithium and Methotrexate, whose clearance may be reduced. Caution is specifically advised if Methotrexate is administered within 24 hours of Ecena.

  • Reduced Efficacy and Organ Risk: Co-administration with Diuretics or Antihypertensive Agents (e.g., ACE-inhibitors or ARBs) is documented to reduce the intended blood pressure-lowering and natriuretic effects. This combination also significantly increases the official risk of acute renal insufficiency, a risk noted to be higher in the elderly and in dehydrated patients.

  • Substance and Excipient Constraints: Regulatory documents state that the medicine must not be used for 8–12 days following Mifepristone administration. Furthermore, the presence of Alcohol during treatment may formally increase the risk of gastric bleeding, and the inactive ingredient Lactose restricts the use of this medicine in patients with documented hereditary malabsorption problems.

Mechanism of Action

How Ecena Works

Ecena's mechanism of action is primarily pharmacodynamic, beginning with the active ingredient's role as a preferential inhibitor of the Cyclooxygenase-2 ( COX-2) enzyme. This COX-2 enzyme is highly inducible at sites of local tissue activation.

Targeted Inhibition and Pathway Modulation

By occupying the active site of COX-2, the drug modifies the first step in the arachidonic acid cascade, leading to a reduction in the synthesis of pro-inflammatory mediators, chiefly Prostaglandin E2 ( PGE2). The molecule also influences secondary signaling by contributing to the attenuation of certain cytokine ( IL-1beta) cascades.

Systemic Physiological Consequences

The diminished concentration of PGE2 initiates two critical physiological modulations at the tissue level: it lowers the chemical sensitization of peripheral nociceptors (pain-sensing nerve endings) and limits PGE2's action on local blood vessels, which controls vascular permeability. This dual physiological effect modifies both nociceptive signaling and the extravasation of fluid into tissue space, influencing the local homeostatic balance within the targeted pathways.

Mechanistic Constraint

As a structural constraint of its class, the molecule also exerts partial inhibition on the constitutive COX-1 enzyme, which is responsible for prostaglandins necessary for homeostatic maintenance, such as regulating gastric mucosal integrity.

Dosage and Administration Information

How to Use Ecena

Ecena, which contains the active ingredient Aceclofenac, is administered via the oral route for systemic absorption. The medicine is most commonly provided as a 100 mg film-coated tablet, although certain markets may also supply a 200 mg extended-release tablet or a powder for oral suspension.

The standard adult regimen requires a total daily dose of 200 mg, which is typically achieved by taking 100 mg per dose, twice daily (in the morning and evening). The total daily dosage does not exceed 200 mg. Tablets are swallowed whole with an adequate amount of liquid, and administration is typically with or immediately after food.

The duration of therapy is governed by the principle of using the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration necessary to manage symptoms, with the need for continued treatment subject to periodic re-evaluation. For specific populations, such as those with mild hepatic impairment, the dose is reduced to 100 mg total daily. The medicine is not recommended for use in children due to a lack of supporting clinical data.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Ecena: Recent Clinical Evidence

Study Focus

The drug's mechanism of action was investigated during research, focusing on a specific receptor pathway. This pathway is the subject of ongoing investigation in the context of chronic autoimmune conditions. The studies focused on observing the biochemical response to the agent at the cellular level.


Clinical Observation and Symptom Change

The primary goal of these studies was to assess the measurable change in the signs and symptoms of Condition X following the intervention.

Monotherapy Trials

The first set of studies examined the change in symptoms over time in participants with mild-to-moderate Condition X. These randomized, placebo-controlled trials tracked changes in key indices, including joint swelling, pain scores, and patient-reported quality of life metrics, over the 12-week duration of the study.

Combination Therapy Trials

Studies investigated the change in the severity and frequency of flare-ups when the drug was used alongside a standard-of-care immunosuppressant. Researchers monitored the percentage of patients achieving a predefined clinical response criterion after six months of treatment.


Safety Data Collection and Summary

All clinical trials collected comprehensive data on adverse events and tolerability profiles. Researchers closely monitored common side effects, serious adverse events, and changes in laboratory parameters, such as liver enzyme levels and blood cell counts.

Comparison to Other Interventions

Research explored the outcomes associated with this drug in comparison to other studied interventions. These non-inferiority trials were designed to observe if the incidence of serious adverse events differed between the tested agent and an established comparative treatment.

Summary of Findings

The studies provide findings related to the clinical investigation of this drug in Condition X.

  • The monotherapy trials reported an observed change in symptom severity over the full study period.
  • The combination therapy research reported an increased proportion of subjects meeting clinical response criteria relative to the monotherapy group findings.
  • Studies reported a higher incidence of adverse events in subjects with pre-existing liver conditions, and these findings contributed to the overall safety data collected.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Ecena (FAQ)


Q: Can I split the Ecena tablet to make it easier to swallow?

According to the official product information, the film-coated tablets should be swallowed whole with an adequate amount of liquid. Patients are instructed to follow this specific procedure for administration. Splitting or crushing the tablet is not the officially recommended method of taking the medicine.


Q: What is the difference between COX-1 and COX-2?

Ecena's active ingredient is classified as a preferential inhibitor of the Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme. The COX-2 enzyme is highly inducible at sites of tissue activation and is primarily involved in the synthesis of pro-inflammatory mediators. The molecule also exerts partial inhibition on the constitutive COX-1 enzyme, which is responsible for prostaglandins necessary for homeostatic maintenance, such as protecting the lining of the stomach.


Q: How should I dispose of an expired bottle of Ecena?

Official regulatory documents state that unused or expired medicine must not be placed in household waste or flushed down the sink. Disposal of the medicine is required to be in accordance with local regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical waste. This typically involves returning the medication to a pharmacist or a designated collection point.


Q: Is it safe to drive after taking Ecena?

Official prescribing information notes that side effects such as dizziness or other central nervous system effects are possible with this class of medicine. Patients who experience these types of side effects are advised to use caution and refrain from driving or operating dangerous machinery.

How should Ecena be stored and disposed of?

How to Store and Dispose of Ecena?

Ecena (Aceclofenac tablets) must be stored strictly according to official regulatory requirements to maintain product stability and safety.


Official Storage Conditions

The medicine must be stored below 25°C and protected from moisture. To ensure this, tablets must be kept in their original blister pack until the moment of use. As a standard safety measure, this medicine must always be kept out of the sight and reach of children.


Disposal Requirements

Unused or expired Ecena must not be thrown away via wastewater or standard household waste. All medicinal products and waste materials must be disposed of in accordance with local requirements for pharmaceutical waste, often by returning them to a pharmacist or designated collection point.

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

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