|
Sunday, May 25, 2003
Dumaguing: Breakthrough drug for arthritis and pain
By Dr. Vic Dumaguing
SINCE its debut into international medical community at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) held in Stockholm, Sweden on June 2002, Etoricoxib (Arcoxia) has been living up to the great expectations not only of rhematologists, pain specialists but also general practitioners, who found a very impressive pharmocological profile of efficacy, safety and tolerability of the drug.
Etoricoxib is a highly selective inhibitor of the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase-2 or COX-2, which through a series of reactions end up with inflammatory response to injury with its cardinal symptoms of dolor (pain), tumor (mass), calor (heat), rubor (redness) and temporary loss of function of the affected organ (functio laesa).
However, Etoricoxib is distinguished from other so-called selective COX-2 inhibitors or COXIBS by its pharmacokinetic profile that includes high degree of bioavailability after oral administration, a dose-proportional peak plasma concentration, which is achieved within a short period of time and impressive long plasma elimination half-life that ensures sustained analgesic or pain relief efficacy on a single daily dose.
In a study made by Dr. Eduardo Collantes, et al, Etoricoxib was assessed and evaluated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, compared with placebo and active-comparator drug, the NSAIDs non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Naproxen, in a randomized, double-blind research methodology.
There were 1,171 patients distributed to three groups, each receiving one of the test medicines. Compared with placebo, Etoricoxib and Naproxen showed significant improvement in all efficacy endpoints and that both drugs were well tolerated. The obvious advantage of Etoricoxib is its once a day dose of 90mg compared to Naproxen 500mg 2x a day.
Another very encouraging clinical study showed efficacy of Etoricoxib in treating the excruciating pain of acute gouty arthritis, the arthritis due to deposition of uric acid crystals called tophi in the joints and even soft tissues as well as organs like the kidney.
Over a seven-day period, a total of 189 patients with clinically diagnosed acute gouty arthritis based on the American Rheumatology Association criteria were randomly assigned to receive either Etoricoxib or the traditional NSAIDs indomethacin.
The primary endpoint was the mean change from baseline in patient assessment of pain over a period of four days. Secondary endpoints over a seven-day period involved both patient and investigators evaluation of drug response. Again, Etoricoxib rose to the challenge by coming up with a significant decrease in the pain level of patients comparable with indomethacin and continued to reduce joint pain over the entire 7-day period.
And the added bonus is, patients on Etoricoxib had significantly fewer side effects. On the other hand, those on Indomethacin reported side effects of more dizziness, hypertension, nausea, headache and even sleepiness.
All said, Etoricoxib is a boon to patients who are long sufferers of rayuma and pain. Arcoxia is the tradename of Etoricoxib.
For osteoarthritis, the recommended dose is 60mg tablet daily; for rheumatoid arthritis, it is 90mg daily and for acute pains, like after dental surgery or for the acute exacerbations of gouty arthritis, you may take the 120mg tablet for 3 to 5 days. Now with Etoricoxib, your joints are out of the cage.
(May 25, 2003 issue)
Want Sun.Star news on your mobile phone? Click here.
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
