Xefo

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Xefo

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 Xefo

What Type of Medicine is Xefo (Lornoxicam)?

Xefo is a prescription-only pharmaceutical product defined by its sole active ingredient, Lornoxicam. This substance is a synthetic compound that falls under the broad pharmacological umbrella of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), specifically categorized as an oxicam derivative. The drug's classification confirms its fundamental utility in modulating the biological processes that lead to discomfort and inflammation.

Lornoxicam is categorized within the group of anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic non-steroid products. This formal designation identifies Lornoxicam as a therapeutic agent targeting musculoskeletal symptoms. The drug is clinically utilized for its application in pain management, particularly in post-operative settings where acute relief is required.

Lornoxicam Composition and Available Forms

The core chemical entity, Lornoxicam, is delivered in distinct pharmaceutical preparations. These primarily include the oral formulation, such as the film-coated tablet, and the parenteral formulation, which is a lyophilized powder prepared for solution for injection. The availability of oral and injectable forms provides flexibility in the route of administration.

The variation known as Xefo Rapid is a distinguishing factor, as it is engineered to provide a comparatively rapid onset of action via the oral route. Authorized use of Lornoxicam includes the symptomatic treatment of pain and inflammation associated with various conditions.

General Therapeutic Purpose and Role

The primary general purpose of Xefo is to serve as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent to manage discomfort. Lornoxicam achieves this function by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins, the chemical mediators that induce pain signals and inflammation. This action provides symptomatic relief across a range of inflammatory and painful conditions.

Regulatory References

  1. EMA Xefo Referral Page

What side effects are possible with Xefo?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

This section outlines the officially documented adverse reactions and safety information for Xefo (lornoxicam), based strictly on government regulatory documents.


Frequency-Classified Adverse Reactions

The most commonly reported adverse reactions are typically Gastrointestinal disorders and Nervous System disorders, categorized as Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people). These often include nausea, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, headache, and dizziness. Less frequent, or Uncommon reactions, may involve psychiatric, cardiac, or skin disorders, such as difficulty sleeping, palpitations, rash, or oedema.


Serious Adverse Reactions and Restrictions

All non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) carry a documented risk of serious adverse reactions. These include potentially fatal gastrointestinal bleeding, ulceration, or perforation, and a small increased risk of arterial thrombotic events (such as myocardial infarction or stroke), particularly with high doses and prolonged treatment. Severe skin reactions (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome) and hypersensitivity reactions (including anaphylaxis) are also officially documented as very rare or rare events.

Safety is formally structured by official restrictions. Xefo is contraindicated for patients with severe heart, liver, or renal impairment; active gastrointestinal bleeding or ulceration; and during the third trimester of pregnancy. Caution is required for elderly patients, as they are at an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal events.


Regulatory Structure

The medicine's safety profile is organized by System-Organ-Class, detailing the impact across multiple body systems, and is governed by established regulatory frequency classifications (e.g., EMA/ICH frequency bands).

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and when to seek help

The information regarding Lornoxicam overdose is strictly derived from official government regulatory documents.

Element Official Regulatory Information
Documented Manifestations Acute signs include nausea, vomiting, and cerebral symptoms such as dizziness and disturbances in vision. Severe progression may involve ataxia, coma, or cramps (convulsions).
Systemic Outcomes Overdose is associated with potential changes in liver and kidney function, acute renal failure, and coagulation disorders.
Emergency Action Patients must contact their doctor or the pharmacist immediately if a dose higher than prescribed is taken. The medication must be immediately withdrawn, and emergency measures considered.
Antidote & Management No specific antidote is known to date for Lornoxicam. Management is symptomatic and supportive. Listed procedural steps include gastric lavage, administration of activated charcoal to diminish absorption, and monitoring of vital functions.

Connection to the overall overdose profile: Regulatory documents define the overdose profile based on these specific, documented clinical and systemic manifestations, which range from acute CNS/GI signs to potentially severe outcomes like acute renal failure. This profile explicitly requires immediate medical attention due to the documented absence of a specific reversal agent, necessitating treatment focused entirely on supportive care.

Therapeutic Uses of Xefo

What Xefo Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

The medication is considered relevant for easing symptoms related to physical discomfort and conditions presenting with systemic or localized discomfort. It is commonly used for the management of acute episodes and for conditions involving episodic or fluctuating manifestations, such as certain rheumatic conditions. This spectrum of use may be part of symptomatic management across several key therapeutic domains.


Easing Symptomatic Discomfort

Xefo is commonly used to help with symptoms related to physical discomfort. It provides support that helps ease the overall symptom burden and supports general well-being during periods of heightened symptoms. It is applied across domains where short-term symptom management is appropriate, often used during phases when symptoms become more noticeable.

“The drug may assist with addressing symptoms that interfere with daily functioning or create noticeable physiological strain.”


Management of Functional Strain

The medication supports the patient during difficult episodes by easing distress and provides supportive relief when symptoms become more disruptive during flare-ups. This is applied in scenarios where additional management of discomfort is required.

Quick Fact: Short-term Symptomatic Assistance

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Eligibility and Contraindications

Official regulatory information strictly defines which patient populations are eligible to use Xefo (Lornoxicam) and which are contraindicated (must not use the medicine).

Contraindicated Populations (Must Not Use):

  • Prior Hypersensitivity: Individuals with a known allergy to lornoxicam or who have experienced asthma, rhinitis, angioedema, or urticaria following the use of other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including acetylsalicylic acid.
  • Severe Organ Impairment: Patients with severe renal impairment (e.g., creatinine clearance < 30 mL/ min), severe hepatic impairment, or severe heart failure.
  • Bleeding Risk: Those with active peptic ulceration, a history of recurrent ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding/perforation related to previous NSAID use, cerebrovascular bleeding, or other bleeding and coagulation disorders like thrombocytopenia.
  • Specific Physiological States: Individuals who are in the third trimester of pregnancy or are breastfeeding (lactating). The use is also not recommended for women attempting to conceive.

Age and Other Restrictions:

  • Pediatric Use: Xefo is not recommended for use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age due to a lack of established safety and efficacy data in this group.
  • Caution/Restriction: Use requires special consideration or caution in patients with mild to moderate renal or hepatic impairment, and in the elderly, where monitoring of organ function is often recommended. Dehydrated or hypovolaemic patients are also generally contraindicated.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Xefo Interactions with other medicines and products

Official regulatory documents define Lornoxicam's interaction profile across pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic mechanisms. The profile establishes several combination restrictions and notes on altered drug exposure.


Interaction Scope and Restrictions

Classification Interacting Agents or Notes
Formally Contraindicated Other Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), including COX-2 inhibitors.
Risk of Bleeding Anticoagulants (e.g., Warfarin), Antiplatelet Agents, and SSRIs.
Reduced Drug Effect Diuretics (e.g., Furosemide) and Antihypertensives (ACE Inhibitors, ARBs).
Increased Drug Exposure Lithium, Methotrexate, Digoxin, and Cyclosporine (due to reduced clearance or enhanced effects).

Pharmacokinetic and Contextual Notes

Lornoxicam is metabolized by the CYP2C9 enzyme. CYP2C9 inhibitors like Cimetidine can increase Lornoxicam plasma concentrations, while inducers like Rifampicin may decrease them, altering the drug’s exposure. Administration with food is officially documented to reduce the peak plasma concentration (C max) of the oral form.

Interaction severity may be heightened in elderly patients and those with impaired renal or hepatic function, specifically concerning interactions that affect kidney function, such as those with diuretics or ACE inhibitors.

Mechanism of Action

Targeting the Cyclooxygenase Enzyme System

Lornoxicam, the active molecule in Xefo, engages its mechanism by acting as a non-selective inhibitor of the Cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) enzymes. This molecular interaction blocks the enzymes from initiating the first committed step in the Arachidonic Acid Cascade, which is the biochemical pathway responsible for generating lipid signaling molecules.


Modulation of Prostaglandin Synthesis

The inhibition of COX enzymes directly prevents the production of prostaglandins—the key humoral mediators in the inflammatory and nociceptive pathways. This targeted reduction in mediator synthesis modifies the entire eicosanoid cascade, resulting in a reduced concentration of these molecules in tissue environments.


Desensitization of Nociceptive Pathways

The resulting reduction in prostaglandin levels directly results in a core physiological change: the desensitization of peripheral nociceptors (pain-sensing nerves). By reducing the chemical amplification of signals at the nerve endings, this mechanism limits the sensory nervous system's overall response, resulting in a physiological consequence of inhibited nociceptive signaling.

Dosage and Administration Information

Administration and Dosing Protocol

Xefo (Lornoxicam) is available for both oral administration (as 4 mg and 8 mg tablets) and parenteral administration (as an 8 mg powder for intravenous or intramuscular injection). The fundamental principle of use is to utilize the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration necessary to address symptoms.

Standard Adult Dosing Limits

The maximum recommended adult daily dose is 16 mg, typically administered by dividing the total daily amount into 2 or 3 separate doses.

Indication (High-Level) Maximum Recommended Daily Dose Frequency Pattern
Oral Pain Relief / Arthritis 16 mg Divided into 2 or 3 doses daily
Parenteral Injection (IV/IM) 16 mg (after the first 24 hours) Divided doses; use limited to 2 days

Administration Conditions and Preparation

Oral tablets must be taken with a sufficient quantity of liquid. Taking the tablet with food may reduce the rate of absorption. For the injectable powder, the formulation must be reconstituted with 2 mL of water for injection immediately prior to use. Administration via injection is procedural: IV injection should be administered over a minimum of 15 seconds, and IM injection over a minimum of 5 seconds.

Population-Specific Instructions

Dose reductions are required for adults with mild to moderate renal or hepatic impairment, where the maximum daily dose is limited to 12 mg in divided doses. The use of Lornoxicam is not recommended for individuals under 18 years of age due to a lack of data on safety and efficacy in the pediatric population.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research evidence / Overview of studies for Xefo

The research evidence for Lornoxicam focuses on studies that examine outcomes related to physical discomfort and inflammatory states across several conditions evaluated in research. This summary describes the landscape of clinical studies as assessed by regulatory bodies, without providing any clinical guidance or advice.


Evidence for Short-Term Pain Relief: Acute Postoperative Settings

The evidence base for acute pain settings, such as pain experienced after surgery (postoperative pain), primarily relies on short-term Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). These studies were used in research exploring how symptoms change over time, often comparing Lornoxicam against inactive substances (placebo) and other active pain medications. The oral and injection formulations have been evaluated in contexts such as severe pain immediately following surgery or other acute events.

Studies monitored outcomes describing episodic or acute changes within the first hours or days. Researchers examined the intensity of patient-reported pain, the reported time elapsed until initial pain relief was noted, and measured the need for additional rescue pain medication. The research describes short-term changes, but the majority of data gathered primarily applies to the immediate, acute phase.

What remains uncertain: Follow-up durations were limited, typically focusing on the first 24 to 48 hours. There is limited information for long-term outcomes or recurring pain patterns after the initial acute phase has subsided.


Evidence for Studies Focusing on the Symptomatic Context of Osteoarthritis

The research on Lornoxicam in studies focusing on the symptomatic context of osteoarthritis involves controlled clinical studies applied in studies examining patient-reported experiences over intermediate periods. These trials typically enrolled adults diagnosed with osteoarthritis.

Researchers examined outcomes related to systemic or functional imbalance, such as patient-reported pain scores and measures of daily functioning or activity level. Findings describe patterns observed when Lornoxicam was compared against other active treatments in the evaluation of symptomatic changes. The clinical studies contribute evidence for observing symptomatic patterns over a period of up to a few months.

What remains uncertain: The clinical studies contribute evidence for observing symptomatic patterns over a period of up to a few months. There is limited information for long-term outcomes that look beyond a year, and research does not determine whether an individual will respond similarly over very extended treatment periods.

Key Studies & References

  1. Analysis of the Effectiveness of Lornoxicam and Flurbiprofen on Management of Pain and Sequelae Following Third Molar Surgery: A Randomized, Controlled, Clinical Trial

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Xefo (FAQ)


Q: How quickly does Xefo start working after taking it?

Official research data on Xefo (lornoxicam) involves studies where researchers monitor the time elapsed until initial pain relief is noted by patients. Furthermore, the specialized variation of the medicine, Xefo Rapid, is engineered to provide a comparatively rapid onset of action via the oral route. Concerns regarding the rate of effect may be addressed by reviewing the form of the medicine used, as described in official product information.


Q: What is the difference between Xefo and other NSAIDs?

Xefo's active ingredient, lornoxicam, is classified within the broad family of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). Within this family, official documents categorize lornoxicam as an oxicam derivative. Like other NSAIDs, it works by inhibiting the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, which are key components of the pain and inflammation pathways in the body.


Q: Does taking Xefo cause drowsiness or sleepiness?

Official product information lists certain Nervous System disorders as common side effects, specifically including headache and dizziness. Dizziness is a commonly reported side effect. Although drowsiness itself is not explicitly listed as a common reaction, if dizziness occurs, official documents recommend caution during activities requiring alertness.


Q: Can Xefo be used for long periods of time?

Regulatory guidance on Xefo emphasizes using the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration necessary to address symptoms. Research evidence used for approval primarily focuses on short-term pain management and symptomatic changes over intermediate periods (a few months) for chronic conditions like osteoarthritis. Official warnings highlight that there may be an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events with prolonged treatment.


Q: Are there any specific foods to avoid while using Xefo?

Regulatory documents indicate that taking the oral tablet form of Xefo with food may reduce its rate of absorption and decrease the maximum concentration (C max) of the medicine in the bloodstream. Specific foods to formally avoid are not listed in the official product information. It is noted that taking the tablets with food generally reduces the rate of absorption.


Q: Can Xefo be used to treat chronic pain conditions?

Research reviewed by regulatory bodies includes studies focused on the symptomatic context of osteoarthritis, which is a chronic condition. These studies examined changes in patient-reported pain scores and daily functioning over intermediate periods. Official information also notes that there is limited information for long-term outcomes beyond a year.


Q: What is the long-term safety profile of Xefo?

The long-term safety profile is framed by official warnings that highlight the potential for serious risks, such as gastrointestinal bleeding and a small increased risk of arterial thrombotic events (like heart attack or stroke), particularly with high doses and prolonged treatment. Furthermore, official research summaries state there is limited information for long-term outcomes that look beyond a year.


Q: What is the general duration of treatment with Xefo?

The general principle of use, as documented in regulatory guidelines, is to use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration necessary. For the injectable form, use is typically limited to no more than two days. The duration of oral treatment follows the principle of using the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration necessary.


Q: How long do the effects of Xefo usually last?

According to the official product information, the active ingredient in Xefo, lornoxicam, has a half-life of approximately 3 to 4 hours. The half-life describes the time it takes for half of the medicine to be cleared from the bloodstream. The medicine's half-life is consistent with the established frequency of use, which is typically divided doses throughout the day.


Q: What should be done if an unusual side effect occurs while on Xefo?

Regulatory safety information describes that unusual or potentially serious side effects may necessitate discontinuing the medicine and seeking immediate medical consultation. Patients are generally advised on the potential for reporting side effects to a national drug safety or pharmacovigilance system.


Q: Does Xefo cause weight changes?

Official product information lists oedema (fluid retention) as an uncommon side effect. Oedema involves the accumulation of excess fluid in body tissues, which may be associated with weight changes. If symptoms such as unusual swelling or weight fluctuations occur, medical guidance may be sought.


Q: Can Xefo affect driving or operating machinery?

Official regulatory documents state that Xefo has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive or use machinery. If common side effects such as dizziness or headache occur, regulatory caution is advised regarding activities that require alertness.


Q: Is it safe to stop taking Xefo suddenly?

Official patient information generally recommends avoiding treatment discontinuation without prior consultation. Stopping the medication abruptly may result in the return of symptoms you were treating. The duration and cessation of use should be managed in accordance with professional guidance.

How should Xefo be stored and disposed of?

Storage and Disposal Requirements

Official regulatory information defines specific storage requirements for Xefo (lornoxicam) based on the formulation to maintain drug stability and safety.

Formulation Temperature Requirement Protection Requirement
Film-coated Tablets (Blister) Do not store above 30 °C None documented
Rapid Film-coated Tablets Store at or below 25 °C Store in original package to protect from moisture
Powder for Injection Do not store above 25 °C Keep vial in outer carton (light protection)

All formulations must be stored out of the reach and sight of children.

The Powder for Injection must be used immediately after reconstitution, or within 24 hours if kept under controlled temperatures. Do not dispose of Xefo via household waste or wastewater; return unused or expired medicine to a pharmacist for environmentally safe disposal.

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

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