© 1978 British Society for Rheumatology
research-article |
DICLOFENAC (VOLTAROL) IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A REPORT OF A DOUBLE-BLIND TRIAL
1Royal Salop Infirmary Shrewsbury
2Research and Medical Department Ciba-Geigy, Macclesfield
Correspondence to:
Requests for reprints to Dr. P. D. Fowler.
A double-blind trial compared diclofenac with placebo in 44 out-patients. One patient in the diclofenac group dropped out because of dyspepsia following psychological shock. In the placebo group one patient dropped out because of dyspepsia and one because of poor therapeutic effect. Twenty of those who completed the trial received diclofenac.
The dosage was one tablet (25 mg diclofenac) t.d.s. during the first week. In the second (final) week, most patients had four or six tablets.
Diclofenac had a significantly greater effect on pain, grip, morning stiffness, joint tenderness and swelling, and in comparison to previous treatments, even though the placebo group required significantly more rescue analgesic.
A few patients in each group had slight dyspepsia. One in the active and six in the placebo group complained of minor central nervous system symptoms. There were no serious side-effects.
Haematological, biochemical and urinary analyses showed no clinically important changes.
It is concluded that, under the conditions described, diclofenac (Voltarol) is effective in relieving the symptoms of inflammatory polyarthritis. It is as well tolerated as placebo medication, and had no detrimental haematological or biochemical effects.