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Castaldo RS, Mato A, Kaul AF, Gorski H, Bosch RJ, A retrospective analysis of Cyclooxygenase-II inhibitor response patterns. Journal of Pharmaceutical Technology 2002;18:305-9 Objective: To summarize responses to cyclooxygenase-II (COX-II) medication use and describe physicians reasons for switching or discontinuing therapy in the management of osteoarthritis. Methods: This retrospective medical record review evaluated all patients in a private clinical practice setting with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis who had been prescribed the COX-II inhibitor rofecoxib. Results: Of 144 evaluable patients, 81 had previously experienced treatment failure with celecoxib. Sixty-three patients had received rofecoxib as their first COX-II agent. A total of 144 patients remained on rofecoxib through the time of followup. Patients starting celecoxib as their first COX-II agent discontinued therapy significantly earlier than those initiating treatment with rofecoxib. (p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier estimates of the median time to discontinuation were 17 weeks for celecoxib and 45 weeks for rofecoxib.There was no significant difference in the time to discontinuation in the first 6 months of therapy with a second COX-II agent between the groups. Conclusions: The majority of patients demonstrating therapeutic failure with 1 COX-II inhibitor may successfully be treated with another COX-II agent.
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