Rectal administration of tenoxicam for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and arthrosis.

Seventy-nine patients with arthrosis (40) or rheumatoid arthritis (39) were included in an open, non-comparative multicentric study. All the patients were treated by rectal route with a suppository form of tenoxicam (20 mg/day) during 6 weeks (in the first 3 days the dose was increased to 40 mg). The drug was administered once daily at evening. Clinical evaluation was performed before treatment and thereafter every 2 weeks. In the patients with arthrosis the parameters evaluated for efficacy were: pain on movement, pain at rest, tenderness, spontaneous pain, pain after 1 day of normal activity, flexion, functional status, and time to walk 10 metres. For patients with rheumatoid arthritis the parameters were: articular index, duration of morning stiffness, functional status, spontaneous pain and pain when moving. Efficacy was considered excellent or good in 22 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and moderate or poor in 17. In the group of patients with arthrosis the results were excellent or good in 28 and moderate or poor in 12. Side effects occurred in five cases.