Double-blind comparison of flurbiprofen and sulindac for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

In this double-blind, randomized trial involving 143 patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and/or knee, the efficacy and safety of twice-daily dosing with flurbiprofen (Ansaid, Upjohn), which has a half-life of 5.5 hours, were compared with those of sulindac, which has a half-life of 7.8 hours. Patients were treated with flurbiprofen (50 mg orally twice a day) or sulindac (150 mg orally twice a day) for six weeks. Based on evaluations by both patients and physicians, there were no statistically significant differences between the two treatment groups in most of the efficacy parameters studied. In addition, there were no statistically significant differences between the two treatment groups in the incidence or type of side effects, which were primarily gastrointestinal in origin. This study indicates that flurbiprofen, taken as 50 mg twice daily, is equally as effective as 150 mg of sulindac twice a day in the treatment of osteoarthritis.