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A multi-centre study of piroxicam in the treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in general practice.

An open, multi-centre, non-comparative study was carried out in general practice to assess the efficacy and tolerance of piroxicam in 159 patients with osteoarthritis and 27 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Initial dosage ranged from 10 to 40 mg piroxicam and all but a few patients continued treatment with 20 mg once daily. Mean duration of treatment was 47.5 days in the osteoarthritis group and 38.4 days in the rheumatoid arthritis group. Marked or moderate improvement was reported at the final visit by 68.6% and 87.7% of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients, respectively. The attending physician's assessment of efficacy indicated an excellent or moderate response in 89.3% of osteoarthritis patients and 84.7% of rheumatoid arthritis patients, with 71.2% of the former and 51.9% of the latter patients preferring piroxicam to the medication which was taken prior to the onset of the study. Highly significant numbers in each group reported an improvement in all parameters of disease activity. Side-effects, predominantly gastro-intestinal, were reported in 54 patients, but cessation of medication was required in only 14 patients.