Efficacy and tolerability of etodolac in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

An open clinical trial was carried out in 57 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, hip or spine to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of etodolac. Patients received 200 mg etodolac twice daily for a period of 2 weeks. The results of clinical and patient assessments made at baseline and at the end of the study period showed that there was significant improvement in pain at rest and on active and passive movement, local tenderness, pain on climbing stairs, joint swelling and functional status. No significant changes were seen in clinical severity of the condition or, in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, in the degree of knee flexion. Patients judged the therapeutic results to be good or excellent more often than the investigator (75% vs 50%). Tolerability of etodolac was very good with few, generally mild side-effects and only 2 patients were withdrawn, more as a precautionary measure than of necessity.