Double-blind multicentre, between patients comparison of two different doses of indoprofen and one of indomethacin in osteoarthritis.

Patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the large joints or spine randomly allocated to either of two dose levels of indoprofen (IP, 300 or 600 mg/day) or indomethacin (IM, 75 mg/day). 147 patients were admitted to the trial. Drugs were given for one to three months. Controls for effectiveness and safety were carried out weekly during the first month and thereafter at monthly intervals. All three treatments gave significant improvement in the variables considered for effectiveness, and relief was generally evident from the first month. No significant differences were observed between the two doses of indoprofen and indomethacin. Adverse reactions, considered drug related, were reported by 11.6% of patients in the IP 300 group, 12.5% in the IP 600 group, and 18.7% of patients given indomethacin.