Efficacy of topical diclofenac diethylamine gel in osteoarthritis of the knee.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of topical diclofenac diethylamine gel, 1.16%, 4 g applied qid for 3 weeks to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. METHODS: Patients with OA of the knee washed out their OA medications for at least 5 drug half-lives. Patients with adequately high baseline pain scores were randomized to apply either double-blind active or placebo gel for 3 weeks. Acetaminophen (up to 2 g/day) was supplied as rescue medication. In a diary, patients recorded compliance to dosing and use of rescue medication and assessed daily pain on movement, spontaneous pain, and pain relief. At weekly site visits, patients completed the Western Ontario and McMaster (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index Questionnaire, which includes assessment of pain, stiffness, and physical function, and assessed pain intensity "right now." At the final visit, a global assessment of treatment efficacy was completed. RESULTS: Of 238 randomized patients, 237 were included in the intent to treat efficacy analysis. Treatments differed significantly for daily pain on movement at Day 5, and continued on most days through end of study. Peak differences were achieved in the second week. On the primary outcome, average pain on movement over Days 1-14, diclofenac gel was significantly superior to placebo gel. Scores for all 3 WOMAC indices for diclofenac gel treatment were significantly superior to placebo at Weeks 2 and 3. A significant difference was achieved on pain intensity "right now" at all 3 weeks. At the end of the study, patients rated diclofenac gel as significantly more effective in treating the pain of OA of the knee (p = 0.03) compared to placebo. There were no safety issues concerning adverse events or laboratory values. CONCLUSION: Diclofenac gel was effective and safe for relief of symptoms of OA of the knee over 3 weeks of dosing.

Analgesic efficacy of low-dose diclofenac versus paracetamol and placebo in postoperative dental pain.

AIMS: To compare the efficacy and safety of diclofenac-K (12.5 mg) vs paracetamol (500 mg) and placebo given in a flexible dosage regimen to treat pain resulting from extraction of impacted third molar teeth. METHODS: This was a 2-day, double-blind, double-dummy, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study of diclofenac-K (12.5 mg) tablets vs paracetamol (500 mg) tablets and placebo in patients with moderate or severe pain within 8 hours of extraction of impacted third molars. RESULTS: After the first 2-tablet dose, patients took on average 2.5 additional tablets of diclofenac-K or 2.4 tablets of paracetamol, almost all as 1-tablet doses. Most placebo patients discontinued by taking rescue medication (ibuprofen 200 mg) on the first day. Pain relief after the initial dose of diclofenac-K (2 x 12.5 mg) was superior to placebo (P < .01 for all efficacy outcomes) and comparable to paracetamol (2 x 500 mg). About 30% of patients in each active treatment group took rescue medication during the study, compared to 78% on placebo. About 70% in each active treatment group considered the overall pain relief to be "some," "a lot," or "complete" compared to only 15% on placebo. The incidence of adverse events in each active treatment group was low and comparable between the treatments. CONCLUSION: An initial double-dose of diclofenac-K (2 x 12.5 mg) or paracetamol (2 x 500 mg) adequately relieved the most intense postoperative pain, and the flexible multiple dose regimen (1 or 2 tablets) maintained adequate pain relief thereafter. Most patients needed only 1-tablet doses following the initial 2-tablet dose.

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo- and active-controlled, parallel-group comparison of diclofenac-K and ibuprofen for the treatment of adults with influenza-like symptoms.

BACKGROUND: The alleviation of influenza-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, and muscle/joint aches and pains, is important so that sufferers can return to their normal daily activities. A flexible dosing regimen is proposed, starting with an initial dose of 2 tablets (2 x 12.5 mg), followed by 1 to 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours as needed, to a maximum daily dose of 75 mg for up to 3 days for fever and 5 days for pain. This flexible dosing regimen matches the existing over-the-counter dosing regimen of ibuprofen, which allows the patient to adjust the treatment according to the type, duration, and severity of symptoms. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the efficacy and tolerability of diclofenac-K 12.5 mg versus ibuprofen 200 mg and placebo against influenza-like symptoms (oral temperature > or = 38.1 degrees C, and at least moderate headache and muscle/joint aches and pains). METHODS: This was a 3-day, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo- and active-controlled, parallel-group trial conducted in Germany. The flexible dosing regimens comprised 2 tablets of diclofenac-K (12.5 mg), ibuprofen (200 mg), or placebo, then 1 to 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours as needed, to a maximum of 6 tablets/d. Primary efficacy outcomes were fever reduction after the initial dose and an end-of-study global assessment of overall symptom relief. Secondary efficacy outcomes included reduction of feverishness; relief of headache; and relief of muscle/joint aches and pains, after the first dose and at the end of days 1, 2, and 3. Use of rescue medication (paracetamol 500-mg tablets) and usage patterns of study medication were also studied. Tolerability was monitored by recording of patients' adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 356 patients were enrolled (n = 121, 120, and 115 patients in the diclofenac-K, ibuprofen, and placebo groups, respectively). All patients were white except 1 Asian patient in the diclofenac-K group; 55% to 60% of patients in all 3 groups were male; the mean age in each treatment group was approximately 40 years. At baseline, mean oral temperature ranged from 38.65 degrees C in the placebo group to 38.74 degrees C in the diclofenac-K group. Mean oral temperatures in both active groups were significantly lower than that of the placebo group from 30 minutes through 6 hours (P < 0.001), dropping 0.85 degrees C after 4 hours in the diclofenac-K group and 0.76 degrees C in the ibuprofen group versus 0.32 degrees C for placebo. In the end-of-study global treatment assessment, 89.0% of diclofenac-K and 89.1% of ibuprofen patients rated global efficacy as "good" to "excellent" versus only 32.1% for placebo. Diclofenac-K was superior to placebo (P < 0.001) and similar to ibuprofen on all direct assessments of fever and aches and pains. Both active treatments were as well tolerated as was placebo. CONCLUSIONS: In this 3-day study, diclofenac-K 12.5 mg taken in a flexible dosing regimen was more effective than placebo in relieving influenza-like symptoms, with comparable tolerability Efficacy and tolerability of diclofenac-K were similar to those of ibuprofen 200 mg.

Low-dose diclofenac potassium in the treatment of episodic tension-type headache.

BACKGROUND: Several clinical trials have demonstrated that low doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs relieve episodic tension-type headache (ETH). AIMS: The aims of this placebo-controlled study were to determine whether single doses of diclofenac-K 12.5 and 25mg effectively relieve ETH in adults and to compare it to ibuprofen 400mg. METHODS: A single-dose multicentre, randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, clinical trial was conducted at 22 primary care centres in Germany. All subjects had a history of ETH according to the classification of the International Headache Society. Of 684 subjects randomised, 620 used the study drugs for an episode of tension headache occurring within one month after enrolment: diclofenac-K 12.5mg (n=160), diclofenac-K 25mg (n=156), ibuprofen 400mg (n=151) and placebo (n=153). The primary efficacy variable was total pain relief, calculated as the time-weighted sum of the pain relief assessments from baseline to the 3h evaluation time (TOTPAR-3). RESULTS: For TOTPAR-3, all active treatments were superior to placebo; no statistically significant difference between the three active treatments could be detected. A similar pattern was also observed with regard to TOTPAR-6 (6h evaluation time), > or =50%maxTOTPAR at 3 and 6h, weighted pain intensity difference at 3 and 6h (SPID-3; SPID-6), percentage of patients with complete headache relief at 2h, end of study global evaluation and time to rescue medication. The number-needed-to-treat (NNT) at 6h was 4.5 (2.9-9.2) in the ibuprofen 400mg group, 4.0 (2.8-7.3) in the diclofenac-K 12.5mg group and 3.9 (2.7-7.1) in the diclofenac-K 25mg group. These differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Diclofenac-K, administered as single doses of 12.5 and 25mg effectively relieves ETH and is comparable to ibuprofen 400mg.

Lowest effective single dose of diclofenac for antipyretic and analgesic effects in acute febrile sore throat.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the antipyretic and analgesic effects of a single oral dose of diclofenac potassium 6.25, 12.5 or 25mg with paracetamol 1000mg and placebo in patients with fever resulting from acute febrile sore throat. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a multicentre, double-blind, double-dummy, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel group study conducted at 21 primary-care centres throughout France. PATIENTS: In total, 343 adult patients with acute febrile sore throat (fever >/=38.0 degrees C) were randomised to the five treatment groups. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received one oral dose of medication. Fever, spontaneous throat pain and pain on swallowing were recorded over 6 hours. If acute symptoms persisted 2 hours after study drug administration, the patient was allowed to take rescue medication and discontinue the trial. RESULTS: The antipyretic effects of diclofenac potassium 6.25, 12.5 and 25mg and paracetamol 1000mg were significantly greater than placebo. The antipyretic effects of diclofenac potassium 12.5 and 25mg were numerically greater than paracetamol 1000mg, which was comparable to the effect of diclofenac potassium 6.25mg. The analgesic effects of the higher doses, diclofenac potassium 12.5 and 25mg, and of paracetamol 1000mg were significantly better than placebo. Summary efficacy measures over the first 4 hours post-dose showed a dose-response relationship among the diclofenac doses, with statistically significant differences on some outcomes between the 25mg and the 6.25mg doses. On the global efficacy evaluation for relief of fever and throat pain, patients rated both diclofenac potassium 12.5 and 25mg significantly higher than paracetamol 1000mg (p