Night pain and morning stiffness in osteoarthritis: a crossover study of flurbiprofen and diclofenac sodium

Abstract

Forty patients took part in an observer-blind multiple dose crossover study to compare the efficacy and tolerability of 300 mg flurbiprofen (100 mg twice a day orally and 100 mg suppository at night) with 75 mg diclofenac sodium (25 mg twice daily orally and 25 mg suppository at night) in the relief of night pain and morning stiffness in patients with osteoarthritis. Equal numbers of patients were randomized to receive one of the treatments for the first 7-day treatment period and then the other treatment for the second 7-day treatment period. There were significant differences in favour of flurbiprofen for the reduction in night pain, improvement in quality of sleep and patients' assessment of overall improvement on treatment. Two patients withdrew from the study due to side-effects experienced whilst taking diclofenac sodium during the first treatment period. Eight patients in all reported a total of 18 side-effects during this study. Six patients reported 12 side-effects whilst taking diclofenac sodium compared with three patients who reported six side-effects whilst taking flurbiprofen. This study confirms the good efficacy and tolerability of flurbiprofen in the symptomatic relief of osteoarthritis.