Efficacy and safety of piroxicam and indomethacin in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. A double blind comparative study.

A total of 17 patients suffering from musculoskeletal disease were included in a double blind study to compare the efficacy and safety of piroxicam and indomethacin. Seven patients received a single dose of 30 mg piroxicam daily for two weeks, an eight patient stopped treatment after two days because of thrombocytopenia of unknown origin. Nine patients received 50 mg indomethacin tid for two weeks although treatment was interrupted for 2 days in one patient when a pulmonary embolus (unrelated to trial treatment) developed. Both treatment groups showed significant reductions in pain scores assessed by the patient from day 2 in the indomethacin group and day 6 in the piroxicam group. There were significant differences between the groups in favour of indomethacin at days 5, 8, 11, 12 and 13, although the groups were not well matched at baseline. Other efficacy measurements including the patient's and physician's overall assessments showed an improvement in some patients in each group, but there were no significant differences between the two groups. Side effects recorded as due to trial treatment occurred in one piroxicam and four indomethacin treated patients. Minor abnormalities in laboratory test results without clinical significance occurred in both groups. One piroxicam treated patient had a low platelet count prior to treatment and a subsequent reduction on day 3 requiring treatment to be stopped.