HOW EFFECTIVE IS VIOXX?
OSTEOARTHRITIS: VIOXX was evaluated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of Osteoarthritis of the knee and hip. The effectiveness of placebo (sugar pill) was compared with VIOXX treated patients in controlled clinical trials of 6 to 86 weeks duration that enrolled approximately 3900 patients. In patients with Osteoarthritis, treatment with VIOXX 12.5 mg and 25 mg once daily resulted in an improvement in patient and physician assessments in Osteoarthritis severity taking into account joint pain, stiffness, and range of motion measures. In six studies of pain accompanying Osteoarthritis flare, VIOXX provided a significant reduction in joint pain at the first determination (after one week in one study, after two weeks in the remaining five studies); this continued for the duration of the studies. In all Osteoarthritis clinical studies, once daily treatment in the morning with VIOXX 12.5 and 25 mg was associated with a significant reduction in joint stiffness upon first awakening in
