Symptomatic treatment of osteoarthrosis with two different oral preparations of naproxen

A new oral Naproxen retard preparation (750 mg once daily) was compared with a standard commercial formula (375 mg BID) in a population of 60 patients affected by osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. An assessment was made of the effects on the clinical parameters, inflammation indexes (ESR, PCR, urinary hydroxyproline) and general tolerance parameters after one month of treatment. Once the steady state had been reached, no significant differences were observed even 24 h after the administration of a single 750 mg dose of Naproxen retard as compared with the administration of two 375 mg doses of standard Naproxen taken every 12 hours. Both treatments induced a similar improvement in the clinical and laboratory parameters and were shown to be equally safe. However, tolerance at a gastro-enteric level was, better with the retard preparation.