Unbound MEDLINE

Tolerability profiles of rofecoxib (Vioxx) and Arthrotec. A comparison of six weeks treatment in patients with osteoarthritis. Scandinavian journal of rheumatology [Scand J Rheumatol] Journal article

 
Acevedo E, Castañeda O, Ugaz M, Beaulieu AD, Pons-Estel B, Caeiro F, Casas N, Garza-Elizondo M, Irazoque F, Hinojosa W, Gutierrez-Ureña S, Vandormael K, Rodgers DB, Laurenzi M 
Tolerability profiles of rofecoxib (Vioxx) and Arthrotec. A comparison of six weeks treatment in patients with osteoarthritis. [Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't]
Scand J Rheumatol 2001; 30(1):19-24.


OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence of selected spontaneously reported adverse events (AEs) in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) treated with rofecoxib (VIOXX, 12.5 mg qd) or Arthrotec (diclofenac 50 mg/misoprostol 200 mcg bid).
METHODS: Double-blind, parallel-group, 6-week study of patients aged > or = 40 years with a clinical diagnosis of OA treated with rofecoxib or Arthrotec. Primary endpoint: self-reported diarrhea; secondary endpoints: abdominal pain, discontinuations due to AEs, GI AEs and NSAID-type GI AEs (ie., acid reflux, dyspepsia, epigastric discomfort, heartburn, nausea, vomiting).
RESULTS: Among 483 patients (80.3% females, mean age 62.1), the rofecoxib group vs the Arthrotec group respectively reported diarrhea 6.2% vs 16.2% (p<0.001); drug-related diarrhea 3.7% vs 16.2% (p<0.001); one or more clinical AEs 52.9% vs 73.0% (p<0.001); GI AEs 28.9% vs 48.5% (p<0.001); NSAID-type GI AEs 18.6% vs 29.9% (p=0.004); discontinuations due to abdominal pain 0.4% vs 3.7% (p<0.05); and discontinuations due to any AE 4.1% vs 9.1% (p=0.029). No significant differences were observed in efficacy.
CONCLUSION: Rofecoxib 12.5 mg qd has improved GI tolerability and similar efficacy compared to Arthrotec (diclofenac 50 mg/misoprostol 200 mcg bid).



More from this journalRelated subjects (MeSH)
  
Advertise on this site.