Jp. Valat et al., A comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of meloxicam and diclofenac in the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, INFLAMM RES, 50, 2001, pp. S30-S34
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerabil
ity of meloxicam compared with diclofenac in patients with osteoarthritis o
f the lumbar spine.
Subjects: 229 patients with radiologically confirmed osteoarthritis of the
lumbar spine.
Treatment and Methods: Once-daily meloxicam 7.5 mg tablet or diclofenac 100
mg slow release tablet. Efficacy and tolerability parameters were assessed
at baseline and after 3, 7 and 14 days of treatment.
Results: The two drugs had equal short-term efficacy, with pain on motion o
f lumbar spine significantly (p < 0.05) decreased at Day 3. Secondary effic
acy variables were also significantly improved at Days 3, 7 and 14. There w
ere no statistically significant differences between the two drugs, althoug
h the global tolerability of meloxicam was significantly better than for di
clofenac, as assessed by the investigators (p = 0.0072) and the patients (p
= 0.049).
Conclusions: Meloxicam and diclofenac were equivalent in relieving the acut
e pain associated with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. However, meloxic
am was much better tolerated.