Piroxicam: new dosage forms

Patient acceptance of medications often depends upon individual and cultural preferences for particular dosage forms. A variety of dosage forms also provides the patient and the physician with greater convenience and flexibility. Thus, multiple formulations increase the clinical utility of a drug. In addition to the capsule, dosage forms of piroxicam now available or in an advanced stage of clinical development include a suppository, dispersible tablet, topical gel, and parenteral formulation. (Ed.: The parenteral and topical formulations were launched after the symposium was held, and are now available). The piroxicam suppository offers an alternative to the oral route of administration. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrate that the 20-mg suppository is bioequivalent to the 20-mg capsule, and clinical studies have shown that it is equal to the capsule in efficacy and toleration. Piroxicam is the only non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is available as a dispersible tablet. This dosage form is also well tolerated by patients and equally effective as the capsule. Intramuscular administration of piroxicam is in development. All these dosage forms offer the convenience of once-a day administration. Piroxicam topical gel (0.5%) has been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory activity in several animal models. In double-blind clinical trials involving patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, the topical gel was found to be significantly more effective than placebo and well tolerated.