Ketoprofen Lysine Salt vs. Ketoprofen Acid: Assessing the Evidence for Enhanced Safety and Efficacy

Endoscopic investigations reveal that a significant majority of individuals taking NSAIDs exhibit acute hemorrhages and mucosal erosions within the gastroduodenal lining. Ketoprofen acid (KA) is a potent NSAID with established efficacy and cardiovascular tolerability, but its gastric tolerability is a recognized limitation. To mitigate this, ketoprofen lysine salt (KLS) was developed. This review evaluates the pharmacological advantages of KLS over KA. While both KA and KLS maintain similar potency, KLS offers distinct advantages. Firstly, KLS demonstrates superior gastrointestinal protection through enhanced antioxidant properties and upregulation of mucosal defenses, as evidenced by both in vitro and in vivo studies. Secondly, KLS exhibits significantly faster absorption, leading to a more rapid onset of analgesic effects; this is attributed to its increased solubility and faster achievement of therapeutic concentrations. In essence, KLS addresses the gastric tolerability issues of KA while providing a quicker onset of action, making it a valuable alternative for patients requiring NSAID therapy, particularly those with gastric sensitivities or in need of rapid pain relief.