A review of benorylate - a new antirheumatic drug

Benorylate (Benoral, Benortan) is the esterification product of paracetamol and acetylsalicylic acid. It has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic properties. Benorylate is probably absorbed as the intact molecule which accounts for its good gastric tolerance. After absorption, benorylate is hydrolysed into its components, salicylate and paracetamol, which then follows the usual routes of metabolism. Benorylate per se is also found in inflamed tissue and several studies, both in vivo and in vitro, have shown that it probably has an anti-inflammatory action of its own. Pharmacokinetic studies have shown that a twice daily administration of benorylate should be sufficient for a therapeutic effect and this has been confirmed by its use in patients. Clinical studies have compared benorylate with aspirin, indomethacin, ibuprofen and phenylbutazone and have shown its value in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthrosis and other musculoskeletal conditions. The overall tolerance is excellent. Some minor gastric disturbances are reported from time to time, but these are less than with comparable doses of aspirin. Studies measuring occult blood loss in the stools have shown that this is not a significant problem with benorylate and that the majority of patients lose no more blood than the controls.