Crossover comparison of benoxaprofen and indomethacin in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

The safety and efficacy of benoxaprofen (300 or 600 mg) and indomethacin 75 to 150 mg) were compared in optimum dosage levels for 91 patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. These multicenter studies were conducted by eight investigators. Overall, the two drugs brought significant and similar improvements in both indications. Benoxaprofen responses were significantly better for several rheumatoid arthritis efficacy measurements, while indomethacin exhibited better responses in some osteoarthritis parameters. Adverse effects were similar for both drugs but fewer drug-related side effects were observed with benoxaprofen. Mild to moderate gastrointestinal complaints were reported with both drugs. In the rheumatoid arthritis study, onycholysis appeared in three patients taking indomethacin although two had received benoxaprofen as first therapy. Unfavorable trends in some laboratory values occurred in nearly twice as many patients on indomethacin. These results were obtained with once-daily benoxaprofen dosage compared to three-times-daily administration of indomethacin at total daily doses titrated to the individual patients.