PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Hettich

Publications and source records attributed to M Hettich.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

A comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of meloxicam and diclofenac in the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of meloxicam compared with diclofenac in patients with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. SUBJECTS: 229 patients with radiologically confirmed osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. TREATMENT AND METHODS: Once-daily meloxicam 7.5 mg tablet or diclofenac 100 mg slow release tablet. Efficacy and tolerability parameters were assessed at baseline and after 3, 7 and 14 days of treatment. RESULTS: The two drugs had equal short-term efficacy, with pain on motion of lumbar spine significantly (p<0.05) decreased at Day 3. Secondary efficacy variables were also significantly improved at Days 3, 7 and 14. There were no statistically significant differences between the two drugs, although the global tolerability of meloxicam was significantly better than for diclofenac, as assessed by the investigators (p = 0.0072) and the patients (p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Meloxicam and diclofenac were equivalent in relieving the acute pain associated with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. However, meloxicam was much better tolerated.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Efficacy and tolerability of intramuscular and oral meloxicam in patients with acute lumbago: a comparison with intramuscular and oral piroxicam.

In this controlled, randomised, parallel-group, multicentre study, the efficacy and tolerability of an intramuscular (i.m.) dose of meloxicam (15 mg) on Day 1 followed by seven days of oral meloxicam (15 mg/day) were compared with those of an i.m. dose of piroxicam (20 mg) on Day 1 followed by seven days of oral piroxicam (20 mg/day) therapy in a total of 169 outpatients with acute lumbago. Time to onset of analgesic action after i.m. injection was determined, and overall efficacy, pain on movement, limitation of daily activities, local tolerability at the injection site and overall tolerability were assessed by investigators and patients on verbal rating scales (VRSs). Adverse events and laboratory assessments were documented. Meloxicam and piroxicam showed a rapid onset of action after i.m. injection (40 and 45 minutes median time, respectively), overall efficacy of both therapies was highly rated, and limitations to daily life were greatly reduced in the majority of patients in both groups. There were no statistically significant differences in efficacy between meloxicam and piroxicam. Local and overall tolerabilities were equally good for the two drugs, but there were fewer gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events among meloxicam patients (1.2% of patients) than piroxicam patients (7.0% of patients). The improved tolerability profile of meloxicam may be explained by its selectivity towards cyclooxygenase-2.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1996

The efficacy and tolerability of an 8-day administration of intravenous and oral meloxicam: a comparison with intramuscular and oral diclofenac in patients with acute lumbago. German Meloxicam Ampoule Study Group.

In this controlled, randomized, parallel and open multicentre study, the efficacy and tolerability of a regimen comprising intravenous (i.v.) meloxicam followed by oral therapy was compared with a standard regimen of intramuscular (i.m.) diclofenac followed by oral dosing in patients with acute lumbago. Of a total of 183 patients, 92 were randomized to receive meloxicam 15 mg i.v. on day 1 followed by 7 days oral treatment with one 15 mg tablet daily, and 91 patients received diclofenac 75 mg i.m. on day 1 followed by 7 days treatment with one 100 mg slow release tablet daily. Pain on movement and limitation of activities were assessed by patients and physicians using questionnaires. Meloxicam i.v. demonstrated a significantly faster median time of onset of analgesic action (30 minutes), compared with diclofenac i.m. (60 minutes). The reduction in pain during movement 30 minutes after injection was also significantly in favour of meloxicam. Assessments of global efficacy indicated that meloxicam was significantly better than diclofenac as rated by investigators (p = 0.02) and patients (p = 0.01). Moreover, the rating of investigators and patients for local and global tolerance was significantly in favour of meloxicam (p < 0.05) and improvements in the quality of life were almost significant (p = 0.053). Fewer adverse events, particularly of a gastrointestinal (GI) nature, occurred in the meloxicam group compared with the diclofenac group. This study therefore demonstrates that meloxicam 15 mg i.v. followed by oral therapy is both efficacious and well tolerated in the treatment of acute lumbago, and compares favourably with the standard NSAID, diclofenac, in this indication.

Administration, Oral↗