Pharmacokinetics of piroxicam: new aspects.

Some new aspects of the pharmacokinetics of piroxicam have recently become of interest because of the wide use of this compound. Recent studies have provided data on several questions: Are the disposition kinetics of piroxicam different from those of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with a short half-life, and are the differences in transsynovial distribution relevant to anti-inflammatory activity and significant in the clinical use of these drugs in acute and chronic rheumatic conditions? Are there important differences in the disposition and elimination of piroxicam from patient to patient and in special subgroups such as elderly patients? Is the variation in the half-life of a drug within a given population significant, especially with regard to the rate of metabolic degradation, enterohepatic recirculation, and tubular reabsorption?