Diflunisal in the treatment of the pain of osteoarthritis. Summary of clinical studies.

In comprehensive clinical studies, diflunisal--a new nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug with a long duration of action--was shown to be highly effective and generally well tolerated in the short- and long-term treatment of the pain of osteoarthritis. In double-blind comparison studies, diflunisal was comparable in efficacy to aspirin and better tolerated. In a separate study with ibuprofen, 800 to 1,200 mg daily (manufacturer's present recommended dose, 900 to 2,400 mg daily), diflunisal, 500 to 750 mg daily, was more effective and comparable in tolerability. Diflunisal had a longer duration of action, requiring only twice-a-day dosage.