Double-blind study of tenoxicam suppositories versus piroxicam suppositories in acute non-articular rheumatism

The effectiveness and tolerability of tenoxicam and piroxicam, administered as a once-daily 20 mg suppository, were assessed in a comparative, randomised, double-blind trial in 48 subjects suffering from acute non-articular rheumatism. Both spontaneous and induced pain improved significantly with each of the treatments. There was no significant difference between the two treatments, whatever criterion of effectiveness was considered, i.e. spontaneous pain, induced pain or overall judgement. The incidence of undesirable side-effects was comparable for both treatments. Thirteen per cent of patients in the tenoxicam group and 16% of the patients in the piroxicam group experienced at least one undesirable side-effect. The majority of reported side-effects were of a digestive nature; however none of these were serious. The risk/benefit ratio of tenoxicam was found to be identical to that of piroxicam in the treatment of acute non-articular rheumatism.