Experience with high doses of ibuprofen in the long-term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Ibuprofen (Brufen) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug wellestablished in the symptomatic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. In view of its exceptionally good tolerance it has become fashionable to prescribe increasingly large doses for severe cases or in those patients unable to tolerate other anti-rheumatic compounds. This study illustrates the sustained therapeutic benefit and almost complete lack of toxicity in fifty-nine rheumatoid patients treated with up to 1,600 mg ibuprofen daily over six months. Significant improvement occurred in all clinical parameters and gastro-intestinal upset leading to discontinuance of therapy was reported in just two patients. There were nq abnormalities in any ofthe biochemical tests performed.