Therapeutic efficacy of tenoxicam in osteoarthrosis disease. A comparative double-blind study of diclofenac

A randomized double-blind study was achieved on 40 patients with osteoarthritis of the hip, knee or spine, inorder to compare the clinical efficacy and tolerability of tenoxicam and diclofenac. The efficacy was achieved on pqain at motion, pattern at rest, morning stiffness and articular movement degree. Moreover, laboratory analyses were determined and side-effects were recorded. Tenoxicam showed therapeutic efficacy during the first week of therapy higher than diclofenac. The authors ascribe this propety to a greater hydrosolubility coefficient of tenoxicam, which gets to high levels in synovial fluid of the inflamed joints, with inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, superoxide anion production and lysosomal enzyme release. The risk/benefit ratio of tenoxicam appears better than diclofenac, as shown by the evaluation of results about efficacy and tolerability.