Nimesulide. An update of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, and therapeutic efficacy

Nimesulide is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) administered orally or rectally twice daily for a variety of inflammatory and pain states. In mostly short term studies (up to 4 weeks), it was effective in reducing pain associated with osteoarthritis, cancer, thrombophlebitis, oral surgery and dysmenorrhoea in adults, reducing pain associated with general surgery in adults and children, and pain, fever and inflammation accompanying respiratory tract infections, otorhinolaryngological diseases and traumatic injury in adults and children. Nimesulide appeared to be at least as effective as other NSAIDs in all of these indications. Nimesulide has been well tolerated by adult, elderly and paediatric patients in clinical trials and large postmarketing surveillance studies. In general qualitative terms nimesulide exhibits the usual adverse events associated with NSAIDs (gastrointestinal, dermatological and neurological). However, it has a pharmacodynamic profile suggestive of a possibly reduced propensity to cause adverse gastrointestinal effects, although this has not been conclusively demonstrated in comparative clinical trials, many of which showed a similar incidence of such effects for nimesulide and the comparator agent. Additionally, nimesulide has been well tolerated by most aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)- and/or NSAID-intolerant patients and in patients with asthma. Thus, available evidence indicates that nimesulide is an effective and well tolerated alternative to other NSAIDs in the short term treatment of pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis and various other causes.