Symptoms of primary osteoarthritis of the knee, including pain and stiffness, were significantly improved in patients who used a topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), according to an article in the October 11 issue of The Archives of Internal Medicine.
According to the article, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are recommended for treating symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA), a joint disease affecting an increasingly large percentage of the aging population. However, oral NSAIDs carry the common risk of adverse effects on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the liver, and the kidneys. Topical NSAIDs may offer an alternative oral medication with a reduction in adverse effects, especially on the GI tract, the article states.
Sanford H. Roth, M.D., of Arizona Research & Education, Phoenix, and colleagues tested the efficacy of a topical diclofenac sodium solution (an NSAID) in the treatment of knee OA. The trial was conducted from December 2000 to May 2001 and studied 228 men and women aged 40 to 85 years with primary OA in at least one knee. Patients were randomized to receive 40 drops of the diclofenac solution applied to the affected knees or a control solution four times daily during the 12-week study.