Side effects of arthritis drugs 'cause concern'
The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended that an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat several types of arthritis should only be prescribed with care because of its potential side effects.
EMEA said that piroxicam-containing medicinal products posed a risk of gastrointestinal side effects and serious skin reactions.
As a result, the agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommended that piroxicam should no longer be used to treat short-term painful and inflammatory conditions.
Despite this, the group said that the drug should still be used for the symptomatic relief of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
However, CHMP said that piroxicam "should not be the first choice of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment in these conditions".
A statement from the group read: "Prescription of piroxicam should always be initiated by a physician experienced in the treatment of patients with inflammatory or degenerative rheumatic diseases and treatment should be used in the lowest dose.
"In addition, the CHMP recommended new contraindications and strengthened warnings for piroxicam."
A spokeswoman for the Arthritis Research Campaign said the current advice was that all NSAIDs should be taken at the lowest possible dose for the shortest length of time wherever possible.
"Because of the potential side effects we now know exist with NSAIDs, there is a real gap in the market for an effective painkiller for people with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions."
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