Comparison of effectiveness of mefenamic acid and ibuprofen in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

This paper reports a double-blind crossover trial comparing mefenamic acid (1500 mg/day) with ibuprofen (1200 mg/day) in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving maintenance salicylate therapy. Both drugs were used in three divided doses. Mefenamic acid compared favourably with ibuprofen. In the adopted dose regimes the side effects from both drugs were mild and almost exclusively gastrointestinal.