[Double-blind randomized multicenter study with tenoxicam, piroxicam and diclofenac sodium retard in the treatment of ambulatory patients with arthroses and soft tissue rheumatism].

In a randomized, double-blind comparative study involving a total of 1630 outpatients, tenoxicam, a new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug belonging to the oxicam group, piroxicam and diclofenac retard were tested for their efficacy und tolerability in the treatment of osteoarthritis and extra-articular rheumatism. Single doses of 20 mg tenoxicam, 20 mg piroxicam or 100 mg diclofenac sodium retard were administered daily. Tenoxicam was found to be as effective as piroxicam and diclofenac-sodium retard in treating degenerative and extra-articular rheumatic disorders of the musculoskeletal system. When baseline values were compared with values obtained at all subsequent examinations, all evaluation parameters for all three substances showed improvement. In analyses of frequency, degree of severity and type of undesired effects tenoxicam proved to be superior to the reference drugs. This was particularly evident from an improved GI and CNS tolerance and a lower rate of withdrawal from treatment. Tenoxicam has a favourable risk-benefit ratio and can be recommended for the treatment of chronic pain due to inflammation resulting from degenerative and extra-articular rheumatic disorders of the musculoskeletal system.