Diclofenac sodium, diflunisal and naproxen: patient preferences for anti-inflammatory drugs in rheumatoid arthritis.

Ninety patients with active rheumatoid arthritis took part in a cross-over trial comparing diclofenac sodium, diflunisal and naproxen. The efficacy of the three drugs was similar though there were trends in favour of diclofenac sodium in some measurements. The incidence of side-effects was similar with the three drugs and each was chosen by a significant group of patients as continuation therapy at the end of the study.