Worldwide Studies Comparing Piroxicam and Naproxen

In double-blind, crossover studies, piroxicam was compared with naproxen. Piroxicam 40 mg was given once daily for two days, followed by 20 mg once daily and is compared with naproxen 750 mg daily for two days, followed by 500 mg daily (N = 85) and with naproxen 1,000 mg daily (N = 83) in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. The different parameters studied included pain intensity, treatment preference and side effects. Piroxicam 40 mg/day was effective and well tolerated and produced a significantly greater reduction in menstrual pain on the first day of the cycle than naproxen 750 mg/day. When compared to naproxen 1,000 mg/day, piroxicam 40 mg/day was equally effective. It is concluded that both drugs were well tolerated, but in both studies patients preferred piroxicam.