Miscellaneous rheumatological conditions treated in monitored-release studies with feprazone

In two monitored-release studies of feprazone (Methrazone), one in hospital and the other in general practice and involving a total of about 4,000 patients, there were 343 patients with a variety of sero-negative rheumatological conditions or soft tissue lesions. The diagnoses included spondylosis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, capsulitis, frozen shoulder, polymyalgia rheumatica and gout. Most of the patients were classified as moderately or severely affected. Feprazone in a dose of 200 mg thrice daily appeared to benefit about 60% of patients during a course of 8 weeks of therapy. No serious adverse reactions directly attributable to the drug were recorded. About 20% of patients stopped treatment because of side-effects, usually gastro-intestinal disturbance or rash. Two patients experienced a marked fall in platelet count which might have been due to the drug, but neither developed any signs of thrombocytopenic purpura.