The evaluation of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (tenoxicam) in the treatment of sleep disturbance in osteoarthritic patients.

The effects of a nocturnal nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (tenoxicam) on twelve male osteoarthritic patients were investigated in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Tenoxicam produced no significant changes in any of the areas evaluated which included electroencephalographic (EEG) sleep, subjective sleep, pain and early morning stiffness. The selection of patients may have contributed to this unexpected result. There was no evidence to suggest that tenoxicam caused any unwanted side-effects or affected early morning psychomotor performance. The use of the sleep EEG as an objective pain measure is discussed.