Treatment of osteoarthritis: a 3-month comparison between tiaprofenic acid and indomethacin

A double-blind trial was carried out in 60 elderly patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip to compare the efficacy and tolerability of treatment with tiaprofenic acid and indomethacin. Patients received either 600 mg tiaprofenic acid or 100 mg indomethacin daily for 3 months. The results of assessments made every 14 days during the trial showed that tiaprofenic acid was at least as effective as indomethacin in all of the parameters studied and was significantly better in improving pain scores in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Fewer gastro-intestinal side-effects were reported in the tiaprofenic acid group. One patient in the indomethacin group had to be withdrawn after 18 days because of severe gastric intolerance.