RANDOMIZED DOUBLE-BLIND-STUDY OF NABUMETONE AND PIROXICAM IN THE TREATMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS IN DUTCH GENERAL-PRACTICE - EFFICACY AND TOLERABILITY

To study nabumetone (1,000 mg once daily) by comparison with piroxicam (20 mg once daily) in patients with osteoarthritis, a randomized, dou ble-blind trail was set up in 40 general practices. Evaluation was bas ed on clinical outcome in 198 patients. There was some evidence that n abumetone is associated with a lower and less severe occurrence of gas tric pain, and with more withdrawals due to lack of efficacy. Although the differences between nabumetone and piroxicam were small in this s tudy, these were clinically relevant. The general practitioner should balance the respective benefits of greater safety and tolerance agains t greater efficacy in meeting the requirements of an individual patien t with osteoarthritis.