Steatorrhea associated with meclofenamate sodium therapy.

Fenamates are a class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that frequently have gastrointestinal side effects. Diarrhea is seen fairly commonly. Malabsorption has been reported only 3 times with mefenamic acid, one of the family of fenamates. A case of steatorrhea due to meclofenamate sodium is presented here. Fenamates block net fluid absorption and also lead to histological abnormalities of the small intestine. The cause of the malabsorption seen in fenamate therapy is not known.