Once-daily treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with choline magnesium trisalicylate.

A pilot study evaluated once-daily treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with choline magnesium trisalicylate (CMT) in patients diagnosed as having classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis, with morning stiffness as a major complaint. Twenty patients were selected who, in an earlier phase of the study, had found twice-daily treatment with CMT effective and tolerable. Efficacy was evaluated in 15 of these patients and safety was evaluated in all 20. Comparisons were made with the twice-daily regimen and with previous nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy. Changes in clinical indicators (numbers of painful and swollen joints and the duration of morning stiffness) showed that once-daily treatment with CMT was as effective as twice-daily treatment with CMT or as treatment with other prior NSAIDs in controlling signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Side effects in both the twice-daily and the once-daily treatment regimens were similar in incidence and nature.