Multicenter comparative study of two sustained-release formulations of ibuprofen: Ibuprofen diffutab tablet 600 mg and microencapsulated ibuprofen 300 mg

The present study compared the efficacy and tolerance of two sustained-release formulations of ibuprofen: the microencapsulated capsule made of chronodialyzing microgranules containing 300 mg of ibuprofen and the diffutab tablet, which is a new sustained-release formulation containing 600 mg of ibuprofen. One hundred one outpatients suffering from osteoarthritis of the hip or the knee (grade 2 or 3 according to the World Health Organization classification) received either two capsules BID of microencapsulated ibuprofen (n = 51) or one tablet BID of ibuprofen diffutab (n = 50) over a period of three months. Control visits were made at days 0, 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90. A significant improvement was observed in both groups for pain at pressure, pain intensity as estimated by patients, nocturnal pain, and active and passive flexion movements; however, no significant difference was noted between the groups. Improvement was rapidly observed and increased progressively during the treatment period. Tolerance of both drugs was excellent. Only three cases of unwanted side effects were reported out of a total of 101 patients.SCOPUS: NotDefined.j