INDOMETHACIN OR PREDNISOLONE AT NIGHT IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS?

Abstract

Indomethacin, 100 mg orally, was compared with prednisolone, 5 mg, as addititional therapy at night, in a two-week, double-blind, between-patient study in twenty-four in-patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Both therapies proved equally effective, and significantly lessened morning stiffness and increased grip strenght. Two patients with dyspepsia were discontinued from the indomethacin group. Using indomethacin at night avoided the central nervous system side-effects frequently seen with this compound.