Is Phenylbutazone safe for humans

Answer 1

No; it has been pulled from the market for human use due to the development of irreversible liver damage when combined with even small amounts of other household painkillers such as acetominophen. It can also significantly affect the duration of action of many commonly prescribed drugs, including several that control Diabetes, anticoagulants used to control platelet formation to help prevent strokes or heart attacks, and several classes of antibiotics. There is a human formulation available only through prescription in the UK, but it is considered a last-line therapy for ankylosing spondylitis in that country.

In the short term, provided the patient does not combine phenylbutazone with any other medication it interacts with, the risks are somewhat nominal and similar to other NSAIDS (GI bleeding, liver damage, etc.). In the long term, however, phenylbutazone carries risks for aplastic anemia (inability to make red blood cells) and kidney failure.