title: Efficacy and tolerability of tenoxicam--an overview.
abstract: One-hundred and thirty-three clinical studies have been conducted with tenoxicam in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthrosis, extra-articular rheumatism, ankylosing spondylitis and acute gouty arthritis. Its efficacy has been demonstrated in double-blind comparative studies against placebo, and dose-finding studies have found the optimal dose to be 20 mg. Most trials comparing tenoxicam with another NSAID have used piroxicam, an earlier oxicam derivative which also has a long half-life. In general, efficacy was similar in both drugs with a trend in favour of tenoxicam. The tolerability of tenoxicam has also been studied in detail. In short-term studies 11% of patients receiving 20 mg tenoxicam and 18% on 40 mg tenoxicam experienced side-effects (p less than 0.01), as did 20% treated with 20 mg piroxicam (p less than 0.01 against 20 mg tenoxicam). In long-term studies clinical tolerability of 20 mg tenoxicam was found to be superior to that of 20 mg piroxicam. The types of side-effects encountered were mainly gastrointestinal disturbances, followed in frequency by skin rashes. However, all side-effects were generally mild and reversible. The efficacy of tenoxicam is clearly established and its tolerability is acceptable with a 20 mg dose. Tenoxicam thus seems a promising drug and a useful addition to the therapeutic armamentarium.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Cantonal Universitaire, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Vischer
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010894:Piroxicam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010894:Piroxicam; C032801:tenoxicam