skip to content
Dovepress - Open Access to Scientific and Medical Research
View our mobile site

8852

Efficacy and tolerability of lumiracoxib, a highly selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX2) inhibitor, in the management of pain and osteoarthritis

Review

(2354) Views  (411) Full article downloads

Authors: Piet Geusens, Willem Lems

Published Date April 2008 Volume 2008:4(2) Pages 337 - 344
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/TCRM.S1209

Piet Geusens1, Willem Lems2

1Department of Internal Medicine, Subdivision of Rheumatology, University Hospital, Maastricht, The Netherlands and Biomedical Research Institute, University Hasselt, Belgium; 2Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Abstract: Lumiracoxib is a COX2 inhibitor that is highly selective, is more effective than placebo on pain in osteoarthritis (OA), with similar analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects as non-selective NSAIDs and the selective COX2 inhibitor celecoxib, has a lower incidence of upper gastrointestinal (GI) side effects in patients not taking aspirin, and a similar incidence of cardiovascular (CV) side effects compared to naproxen or ibuprofen. In the context of earlier guidelines and taking into account the GI and CV safety results of the TARGET study, lumiracoxib had secured European Medicines Agency (EMEA) approval with as indication symptomatic treatment of OA as well as short-term management of acute pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea and following orthopedic or dental surgery. In the complex clinical context of efficiency and safety of selective and non-selective COX inhibitors, its prescription and use should be based on the risk and safety profile of the patient. In addition, there is further need for long-term GI and CV safety studies and general post-marketing safety on its use in daily practice. Meanwhile, at the time of submission of this manuscript, the EMEA has withdrawn lumiracoxib throughout Europe because of the risk of serious side effects affecting the liver.

Keywords: lumiracoxib, NSAIDs, COX2 inhibitors, gastro-intestinal and cardiovascular safety








Readers of this article also read:

Activity and potential role of licofelone in the management of osteoarthritis
Therapeutic options for chronic myeloid leukemia: focus on imatinib (Glivec®, Gleevec™)
Cost-effectiveness analysis of electrochemotherapy with the Cliniporator™ vs other methods for the control and treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors
Review of the combined contraceptive vaginal ring, NuvaRing®
Towards a new standard of perioperative fluid management
New approaches to managing asthma: a US perspective
Development and validation of an RNAi screen for ABT-737 sensitizers
Traditional open-bay versus single-family room neonatal intensive care unit: a comparison of selected nutrition outcomes
Diclofenac topical solution compared with oral diclofenac: a pooled safety analysis
Interaction of curcumin nanoformulations with human plasma proteins and erythrocytes