A double-blind comparison of naproxen with indomethacin in osteoarthrosis

Twenty-two patients with osteoarthrosis of one or both knee joints and 28 patients with osteoarthrosis of one or both hips completed a double-blind trial of 500 mg naproxen daily versus 100 mg indomethacin daily. All patients had been on other active medication up to the start of the trial. Identical trial designs were followed with both classes of patients, namely, a crossover pattern of four weeks on each drug with patients being assessed at -2, 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. Assessments made included objective measurement of joint range, stair climbing and walking times, and subjective grading of pain present during normal activity, of which the patient kept a daily record. Patients were also questioned at each clinic visit regarding possible side effects. Study groups were comparable for both drugs. In the majority of subjective and objective parameters, there were significant improvements from baseline on both drugs of statistically comparable magnitude. Significantly fewer side effects were noted during the period on naproxen compared with those on indomethacin. There were no abnormalities discovered in hematologic or biochemical tests performed during the course of the trial.