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Night medication in rheumatoid arthritis
The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
|August 1, 1976
Summary
Indomethacin and diazepam effectively relieved night pain in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to placebo. However, indomethacin reduced morning stiffness while diazepam worsened it, with no significant differences in sleep quality.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease causing pain and stiffness.
- Effective management of RA symptoms like night pain and morning stiffness is crucial for patient well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of indomethacin and diazepam against placebo in managing RA symptoms.
- To assess effects on sleep, night pain, and morning stiffness.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 18 hospitalized patients with active RA.
- Patients received indomethacin (100 mg), diazepam (10 mg), or placebo.
- Outcomes measured included patient preference, sleep scores, night pain relief, and morning stiffness severity.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in patient preference or sleep scores among treatments.
- Both indomethacin and diazepam showed superior night pain relief compared to placebo.
- Indomethacin decreased morning stiffness, whereas diazepam increased it relative to placebo.
- No significant side-effects were reported for either active treatment.
Conclusions:
- Indomethacin and diazepam offer effective night pain relief for RA patients.
- Indomethacin may be beneficial for reducing morning stiffness, while diazepam could exacerbate it.
- Both drugs appear safe for short-term use in RA management.