Analgesic efficacy and safety of non-prescription doses of naproxen sodium in the management of moderate osteoarthritis of the knee or hip

Non-prescription oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Naproxen are frequently used alone for pain relief in osteoarthritis. Prior Naproxen sodium studies have not reported on a combined knee and hip OA population. Therefore in the present study, the author demonstrated that there were significant improvements in pain and physical function with Naproxen sodium in patients with OA of the knee or hip.

Currently, available osteoarthritis treatment approaches intend to reduce the pain and control joint function. The only pain relief medications used to relieve osteoarthritis-related pain are the non-prescription oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.This post-hoc pooled study intended to assess the analgesic effectiveness and safety of two non-prescription doses of Naproxen sodium for short-term use among the subjects with hip or knee osteoarthritis. A different sub-group analysis was performed with the elder individuals who obtained a lower dose of Naproxen sodium.

The oral Naproxen sodium or placebo was given above seven days as per the four multi-centre, randomised, parallel, multi-dose, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. A total of 818 subjects who obtained Naproxen sodium or placebo were pooled and examined at baseline and after seven days. Timed 50-foot walk test used to measure the function and Five-point rating scales to stiffness after rest, patient and investigator assessment of treatment, day and night pain, and knee or hip joint pain.

The patients treated with Naproxen sodium showed significant improvements in pain and physical function along with “good” to “excellent” treatment, rated by investigators and patients. Older and young patients exhibited equivalent efficacy outcomes. Regardless of age, no notable adverse events were noticed among the groups.

Non-prescription Naproxen sodium is effective and well tolerated among knee or hip osteoarthritis patients of all ages.