[Experiences with 800 mg ibuprofen retard in ambulatory patients with activated osteoarthrosis and extra-articular rheumatic manifestations]

Abstract

The efficacy and tolerance of ibuprofen retard at a dose of 2 x 800 mg daily was investigated in an open multicenter study over a period of 3 weeks on 7931 out-patients with activated degenerative joint disease and/or extraarticular rheumatic symptoms. The overall assessment of the treatment, made by the patients and physicians at the end of the observational study, was positive in 94.7% and 95.7% of the cases, respectively. The therapy was assessed as inadequate in only 5.2% and 4.3% of the cases, respectively. The patient's compliance was assessed by the physicians as being high at 92.6%. Adverse events during the treatment were observed in 7.8% of the patients; these concerned mainly intestinal complaints. Gastrointestinal bleeding was observed in five cases. One patient died from a heart attack during the observational study; this was not related to the drug therapy. The frequency of side effects was within the range of the findings from earlier studies with conventional drug formulations. It can be concluded from the results obtained that ibuprofen 800 retard is well-suited for and demonstrates a good tolerance in the treatment of acute, chronic-persisting, and chronic-intermittent painful conditions of degenerative joint disease and extraarticular rheumatic symptoms.