Table 3.

Ex vivo inhibition of prostanoid formation in whole blood after single and repeated oral intake of diclofenac, ibuprofen or meloxicam. Results are expressed as percentage inhibition of TXB₂ production, as a reflection of platelet COX-1, and PGE₂ production, as a reflection of monocyte COX-2, relative to the predose values.

	COX-1 inhibition (%)		COX-2 inhibition (%)
NSAID (dose)	Single	Repeated	Single	Repeated
Diclofenac (75 mg day−1)	69±22	71±18	95±16	97±5
Ibuprofen (400 mg three times daily)	96±3	90±16	83±12	76±20
Meloxicam (7.5 mg day−1)	30±16	55±20*	63±16	83±13*

All values are mean±s.d.

^*P < 0.05 vs single.