Dose-range studies of benoxaprofen compared with placebo in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis

The new nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug benoxaprofen was compared with placebo in separate double-blind crossover studies in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis given 400 mg, 600 mg, or 800 mg a day. Benoxaprofen was significantly better than placebo at all doses studied. The 800 mg dose was the most effective but there were slightly more gastrointestinal side effects with this dose. The 600 mg dose was more effective than the 400 mg dose with an acceptably low incidence of side effects at both these doses. For most patients, 600 mg once daily will probably be the usual dose of the drug, but some will need the higher dose to 800 mg, while the condition of others may be satisfactorily controlled with just 400 mg daily.