The efficacy of piroxicam in comparison with sulindac in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

The efficacy of piroxicam 20 mg/qd was compared with that of sulindac 200 mg twice a day in 49 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Both nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents showed statistically significant improvement in efficacy variables including duration of morning stiffness, disease activity as judged by the examiner and by the patient, patient assessment of feeling, total joint pain, total joint swelling, and performance of daily activities. The overall frequency of adverse reactions was similar with both treatment regimens, and required discontinuance in three patients in each treatment group. However, the number of moderate/severe adverse reactions in the sulindac-treated patients was greater than that in the piroxicam-treated patients, and there was a trend toward the differences between the two groups being statistically significant (P = .06). Both drugs were effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and resulted in comparable improvement in efficacy variables.