The efficacy of flurbiprofen versus piroxicam in the treatment of acute soft tissue rheumatism.

Fifty patients suffering from acute soft tissue rheumatism entered an open parallel group study of flurbiprofen 200 mg to 400 mg daily versus piroxicam 20 mg to 40 mg daily for 4 weeks. Both treatments caused statistically significant improvements in pain, pain on active movement, restriction of passive movement and reduction of strength. Global assessments of the patients' progress also improved significantly with both compounds. Flurbiprofen was significantly superior to piroxicam with regard to relief of pain at Day 28, pain on active movement at Days 14 and 28, pain on passive movement at Days 7, 14 and 28 and pain, as measured by a visual analogue scale, at Day 14. Clinically, flurbiprofen showed greater improvements in all the other parameters throughout the study period. Side-effects, mainly gastro-intestinal in nature, occurred in 6 patients receiving flurbiprofen and 8 receiving piroxicam. One patient receiving flurbiprofen was withdrawn due to stomach pain and headache, but no withdrawals due to side-effects were necessary in those receiving piroxicam. One patient receiving piroxicam was withdrawn due to a total remission by Day 14.