Nimesulide for painful osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common joint disorders in the world. It is costly and a major cause of pain and disability, esp. in the elderly. The severity of pain often calls for treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Worldwide experience with nimesulide shows that this nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug has a no. of pharmacol. properties that may make it favorable in the treatment of joint diseases. In recent years, several controlled studies have been carried out in order to investigate its analgesic effects in patients with OA. The objective of this article is to review some of the features of osteoarthritis and to identify the role of nimesulide as a drug particularly tailored for the treatment of painful osteoarthritis.