diflunisal vs ketoprofen
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of diflunisal and ketoprofen. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Dolobid
Orudis
Diflunisal is a medicine that can help with pain and swelling. It belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDs.
Ketoprofen extended-release capsules are a type of NSAID medicine. They help reduce pain and swelling.
Diflunisal can help with mild to moderate pain. It can also treat the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. You should use the lowest dose that works for you, for the shortest time needed.
Ketoprofen extended-release capsules treat the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. These conditions cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. This medicine is not for treating sudden, sharp pain.
Diflunisal reduces pain and swelling by blocking the production of certain chemicals in your body. These chemicals cause inflammation and pain. By blocking them, diflunisal helps to relieve your symptoms.
Ketoprofen works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain and swelling. It blocks the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins contribute to inflammation and pain.
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Upset stomach
- • Stomach pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Upset stomach
- • Nausea
- • Abdominal pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Constipation
- Nausea 66
- Fatigue 57
- Pain 50
- Drug Hypersensitivity 47
- Headache 45
- Headache 1,152
- Pain 1,076
- Fatigue 895
- Nausea 746
- Pyrexia 725
NSAIDs like diflunisal can increase your risk of heart problems like heart attack and stroke, which can be deadly. This risk is higher if you take it for a long time. You should not take diflunisal if you are having heart bypass surgery. NSAIDs also raise your risk of serious stomach problems like bleeding and ulcers, which can also be deadly. Older adults are at higher risk for these stomach problems.
NSAIDs like ketoprofen can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may happen early in treatment and increases with longer use. You should not take this medicine if you are having heart bypass surgery (CABG). NSAIDs also increase the risk of serious stomach and intestine problems like bleeding and ulcers, which can be fatal. These can occur without warning, and older adults are at higher risk.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Taking diflunisal late in pregnancy may harm your baby. It is not known if diflunisal passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. NSAIDs may harm your unborn baby. Ketoprofen may pass into breast milk.
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How to Read This diflunisal vs ketoprofen Comparison
diflunisal is classified in the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) drug class, while ketoprofen sits within the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory, but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, diflunisal has 265 submissions while ketoprofen has 4,594. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for diflunisal or ketoprofen.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.