Meloxicam is a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drug (
NSAID), with a favourable ratio of inhibition of
cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)/
cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), giving the
drug the potential to produce few gastric adverse effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of
meloxicam in patients with
osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Five hundred and thirteen patients were treated in a double-blind trial comparing once-daily
meloxicam 7.5 mg, 15mg, 30mg, or placebo (140, 134, 102 and 137 patients, respectively). Outcome measures included scores on Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) for
pain on movement (primary endpoint) and
pain at rest in the target joint as well as global efficacy. Lesquesne's index of severity and
paracetamol consumption were also measured. Global tolerability and the occurrence of adverse events were monitored. Both
meloxicam 7.5 mg and 15 mg were significantly more effective than placebo with respect to
pain on movement (p < 0.01 and p < 0.03, respectively). Both doses of
meloxicam compared favourably with placebo with respect to
pain of the target joint at rest, although only the 15 mg dose achieved statistical significance (p < 0.02). Global efficacy showed a significant difference for both doses of
meloxicam (p < 0.05 and p < 0.002 for 7.5 mg and 15 mg doses, respectively). Once daily
meloxicam 7.5 and 15 mg is effective and well tolerated in the short term symptomatic treatment of OA of the knee.