A Comparative Study of the Efficacy and Toxicity of Etodolac and Naproxen in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Abstract

SUMMARY In a two‐period, double‐blind, crossover study, patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and/or hip received etodolac 300 mg twice daily for 4 weeks and naproxen 500 mg twice daily for 4 weeks in random order. The assessment of efficacy showed that naproxen and etodolac were equally effective in the management of pain and stiffness in osteoarthritis. However, a significantly higher proportion of patients preferred naproxen to etodolac for the relief of pain intensity. The incidence of adverse events caused by either drug was the same.