title: Effectiveness and tolerability of nimesulide in the treatment of osteoarthritic elderly patients.
abstract: One important point in the treatment of osteoarthritis is to control the pain that accompanies the persistent inflammatory conditions. Because of the chronic nature of the disease, drugs with a good ratio of effectiveness to tolerability must be used. In the following double-blind study the effects of nimesulide, a non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug, were compared with those of placebo in 40 elderly osteoarthritic patients, during and after a treatment cycle of 90 days with two 100-mg tablets a day. The reduction of spontaneous and motion-induced pain and of morning stiffness seen at the various check-ups attested the good effectiveness of nimesulide. Functional status as a whole was improved, and it was found that the concomitant weekly intake of an analgesic (paracetamol) treatment could be decreased during the 3 months of the study. The tolerability of nimesulide was good.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blardi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Auteri
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Di Perri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D013449:Sulfonamides; C012655:nimesulide