Double-blind comparison of piroxicam and indomethacin in the treatment of cervicobrachial syndrome and periarthritis scapulohumeralis (stiff shoulder).

In a 14-day double-blind multicenter trial the efficacy and safety of piroxicam was compared with that of indomethacin among patients with extra-articular rheumatic conditions marked by cervicobrachial pain. The drugs were found to have comparable overall efficacy, with over 75% of the patients in both drug groups experiencing some improvement. Piroxicam appeared to provide somewhat better results in the subpopulation with cervicobrachial syndrome, while indomethacin was marginally better among patients with periarthritis scapulohumeralis. There was a trend toward better relief of nighttime pain with piroxicam in the cervicobrachial syndrome group at week 2. Fewer adverse reactions were observed with piroxicam, and the number of patients discontinued for side effects was also lower for piroxicam (4.1%) than for indomethacin (9.5%).