Antipyretic activity of nimesulide suppositories: double blind versus diclofenac and placebo

The acute antipyretic activity of nimesulide 200 mg suppositories was tested in a double-blind trial using diclofenac 100 mg suppositories as active reference drug and placebo as blank reference. Eighty-one patients (52 males and 29 females) aged between 18 and 90 years (mean 65 +/- 16.4), with fever of various etiology entered the study. Body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure were recorded before the drug administration and than after 30, 60, 90, 120, 240 and 360 minutes. Nimesulide proved to be as effective as diclofenac in normalizing body temperature and fever related objective signs (heart rate and arterial pressure), significantly shortening fever duration with respect to placebo. The tolerability of both treatments was in general good: 3 cases of nimesulide group (10%) and 4 cases of diclofenac group (17%) complained of slight and transitory side effects. No side effects were complained in the placebo group.