Amlexanox is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory antiallergic in the immunomodulator class. Primarily, Amlexanox is used to treat aphorism ulcers, better known as canker sores, and similar ulcers that would appear in the mouth or throat. Essentially, it works to reduce inflammation and has been used to help treat a diverse number of medical problems.
Amlexanox was a prescription drug, approved by the FDA as an anti-inflammatory antihistamine paste, used to treat ulcers in the mouth. This paste was used commonly in the late 90’s as a way to both soothe and treat canker sores that would appear. The protective barrier provided comfort while the anti-inflammatory nature of the drug helped to reduce the sore. Since its use then, there has been much exploration as to the uses this drug had to offer us.
Original Purpose of Amlexanox
Amlexanox was first patented for use as a treatment for ulcers in 1994. It was deemed safe for topical and oral use. The subsequent medical paste that was developed, using amlexanox as an active ingredient, was administered topically directly to the ulcer. If the ulcer happened to be in your mouth, the drug would absorb into your bloodstream through the ulcer itself and later through your intestinal tract.
Amlexanox is not readily water soluble which makes it useful for applications that need to adhere to mucosal surfaces. In recent years, amlexanox can be found as a cream, paste, and in an oral capsule form. Amlexanox has not yet been approved by all countries and remains a prescription drug in the United States. Higher concentrations of the drug can be ordered, although they are not FDA approved.
Amlexanox and Inflammation
Amlexanox works by affecting the enzymes that cause inflammation. As a result, amlexanox has shown to reduce both acute and chronic inflammation in various patients. Whether it is the acute pain of a canker sore or the ongoing pain of a chronic autoimmune disease, there seems to be a promising hope for amlexanox to be of assistance. Chronic inflammation can lead to a slough of secondary medical complications or conditions, and perhaps amlexanox will be a suitable way to curb some of those issues as well.
Amlexanox and Metabolism
Although scientists are not entirely sure why just yet, it turns out that amlexanox works on an enzyme that controls fat storage while working as an anti-inflammatory. Various studies have shown that amlexanox works to increase metabolic rate. From what we can tell so far, amlexanox, amlexanox helps to reduce insulin sensitivity. Insulin sensitivity has been linked to metabolic disorders. More research is being done to see just to what extent amlexanox will have a metabolism booster.
Amlexanox for Weight Loss
In today’s world, finding the perfect weight loss cure is comparable to finding the holy grail or the fountain of youth. The obesity epidemic is world-wide and is a chronic disease that has compounding effects on a person’s health. In recent years, obesity and autoimmune diseases have shown some significant correlation. The big question on everyone’s mind right now is, “How can amlexanox help with weight loss?”.
There are high hopes that Amlexanox could be a step in the right direction, when used as an off label drug. Off label drugs are pharmaceuticals that are used for purposes other than what they were originally designed for. A good example of an off label drug would be Duloxotine; it was originally prescribed as an SSRI (antidepressant) but it is now prescribed as a chronic pain medication as it has shown promising results in tested studies. Amlexanox is the same way, and we’re hoping that a drug once used to treat canker sores will help to cut down on obesity.
Fatty Liver Disease
Due to its ability to affect insulin sensitivity in patients with diabetes mellitus type II, amlexanox has also shown good effects at reducing the symptoms and effect of fatty liver disease. Fatty liver occurs in people with diabetes type II, can occur naturally based on someone’s individual genetic makeup or can be secondary to excessive alcohol consumption. Although the long term effects of fatty liver can be hard to reduce, amlexanox may prove to be more helpful than we currently know.
Amlexanox does not readily bind with water when it is absorbed into the body. It requires a carrier that is capable of crossing the phospholipid layers of your skin,to achieve maximum absorption, when applied topically. It slowly absorbs into your bloodstream through direct contact of an ulcer in your mouth, but is further absorbed once it begins to break down further in your digestive system. Amlexanox is absorbed into the body in a way this is manageable for your liver to process and thus far has shown positive effects on reducing fatty liver.
Increase In Bone Density
Some studies have shown that amlexanox has the ability to help improve bone density. This could be crucial to those experiencing autoimmune deficiencies or various types of arthritis. With its positive effects on the skeletal system and combined anti-inflammatory properties, future test results certainly do look promising. Only time will tell what medical good amlexanox will be able to perform.
There’s More To Understand
Amlexanox shows a lot of promise in the reduction of inflammation, as well as some of the more surprising feats, such as: speeding up metabolism and improving fatty liver disease in patients with type II diabetes. There have been numerous other studies in regard to autoimmune disease, asthma, and chronic pain performed with positive results for patients.
Outside of the reduction of inflammation, scientists don’t fully understand exactly why amlexanox happens to work for some of these ailments. There is still a lot to be discovered when it comes to this drug. Medicine and pharmacology are always evolving as we make new discoveries. Amlexanox was introduced as a prescription drug to ease discomfort and treat canker sores in your mouth. The exploration of off label drugs has led to some amazing medical discoveries in the past; it seems like amlexanox is quickly going to add itself to that well-researched list of versatile drugs.
