Piroxicam-beta-cyclodextrin in the treatment of acute pain of rheumatic disease.

Analgesics continue to be the mainstay of therapy in osteoarthritis. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) play an important role, particularly where there is a significant inflammatory component to the osteoarthritis. Piroxicam-beta-cyclodextrin (PBC) is a new formulation in which piroxicam has been complexed with beta-cyclodextrin, a cyclic oligosaccharide. This results in an increase in the rate of absorption of the active compound and, consequently, in an earlier onset of analgesic action. PBC, like piroxicam, is administered once daily. PBC has been used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. In comparison with piroxicam, PBC showed a more rapid analgesic-anti-inflammatory action after the first administration in patients with active osteoarthritis. Subsequent evaluations at the second, fifth and last day of treatment demonstrated a comparable efficacy of the two drugs. The efficacy and tolerability of PBC was compared with other NSAIDs given intramuscularly, such as diclofenac and ketoprofen. The three compounds provided marked pain relief within thirty minutes and this increased progressively until the third to fourth hour. The efficacy of oral PBC was comparable to that of intramuscular diclofenac or ketoprofen. In comparison with metamisole PBC achieved a more rapid and sustained reduction in pain intensity during the first twelve hours of treatment. This rapid and marked reduction in pain intensity with PBC was also observed in patients with low-back pain when compared with etodolac. In view of its efficacy, tolerability and rapid onset of action, piroxicam-beta-cyclodextrin appears to be an useful analgesic and a prominent progress in the treatment of acute rheumatic pain.