Study: Nimesulide Better Than Vioxx for Knee Osteoarthritis

Patients with osteoarthritis of the knee experience greater and quicker pain relief from the drug nimesulide than Vioxx® (rofecoxib), according to a study reported in the November issue of the American Journal of Therapeutics.

Dr. Jose Antonio Herrera, of Hospital Jose Maria Vargas in Venezuela, and his colleagues compared the safety and effectiveness of these two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in 114 patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Of those, 57 received 25 milligrams of rofecoxib per day and 57 received 300 milligrams of nimesulide per day. All patients were 50 years of age or older. The researchers used a new formulation of nimesulide that is supposed to confer pain relief within 24 hours.

Although both drugs were effective and safe in treating symptoms of osteoarthritis, the authors conclude that nimesulide demonstrated superior swiftness of action and quality of life after 30 days compared to rofecoxib. Both drugs were well tolerated.

Other sources: American Journal of Therapeutics 2003;10:468-472