British journal of clinical pharmacology
-
Br J Clin Pharmacol · Jun 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialAnalgesic efficacy of sustained release paracetamol in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
Paracetamol is widely recommended as the initial treatment for pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA). A sustained release (SR) paracetamol formulation (Panadol Extend) was compared with standard immediate release (IR) paracetamol (Panadol) in patients with knee pain secondary to OA. The primary parameter for assessment of efficacy was patient-assessed global pain relief as determined on day 8 of the treatment period. ⋯ SR paracetamol taken three times daily was statistically and therapeutically noninferior to IR paracetamol taken four times daily in patients with knee pain due to OA. SR paracetamol may be more convenient for patients with chronic pain and has the potential to enhance compliance and therefore pain relief.