Piroxicam suppositories in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.

: The subjects were 231 patients aged 16 to 75 years with osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Each patient received 20 mg of piroxicam daily as a suppository administered before sleep; 75% of the patients were treated for 14 days or longer. Overall treatment outcome was excellent in 34% according to physicians' ratings and in 36% according to the patients' self-ratings, good in 39% and 41%, fair in 22% and 17%, and unimproved in 5% and 7%, respectively. Side effects were reported by 3% of the patients. It is concluded that treatment of osteoarthritis with piroxicam suppositories is safe and effective.