Experience with carprofen in extra-articular inflammatory processes

Carprofen is a new non-steroidal compound with analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic properties. Eighty patients with different types of extra-articular inflammatory processes such as periarthritis humero-scapularis, tendinitis, bursitis, etc., were studied by means of two double-blind protocol designs comparing carprofen 150 and 300 mg daily, either as a b.i.d. or a t.i.d. administration, for two weeks. The criteria to determine the therapeutic properties of the compound was based on the improvement of spontaneous pain, pain with movement and functional limitation. Evolution of symptoms showed that either 150 or 300 mg carprofen administered as a b.i.d. schedule, were equally effective (chi 2 test between groups was not significant). According to a t.i.d. schedule results were better with 300 mg. General tolerance was excellent and only 15% of the patients receiving 300 mg complained of side-effects, such as nausea, mild dermatitis, acidity and insomnia. In conclusion, carprofen 150 or 300 mg has a good therapeutical activity in extra-articular inflammatory processes, employing either a b.i.d. or a t.i.d. schedule.