Targeting the therapeutic need in musculoskeletal inflammatory pain with thiocolchicoside and aceclofenac sustained-release combination therapy

Abstract

Context: Musculoskeletal pain is usually associated with inflammation and muscular spasm which further contributes to the elevation of pain. Traditionally, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are employed in the treatment of pain. Literature review reveals that the benefits were more significant in terms of overall symptom reduction, when the patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain were administered the combination of a NSAID & a muscle relaxant. Aims: The present study was undertaken with the aim to assess the efficacy and safety of fixed-dose sustained-release combination of aceclofenac and thiocolchicoside in patients with acute inflammatory conditions associated with muscle spasm. Settings and Design: A multicenter, prospective, open-label, noncomparative clinical study was carried out in 442 patients with clinical diagnosis of inflammation associated with spasm. Subjects and Methods: fixed-dose combination of aceclofenac (200 mg) and thiocolchicoside (8 mg)-sustained-release capsules was orally administered once daily for 2 weeks. Results: The treatment led to significant pain reduction from the baseline noted with visual analog score at the 1st week itself. After 2 weeks of treatment, the mean pain score declined by 90%, joint tenderness improved in 90% of the patients, and the mean joint mobility scores were near normal in most of the patients. Furthermore, at the end of the treatment, nearly all of the patients were symptom free. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions: The current study confirms that fixed-dose combination of aceclofenac and thiocolchicoside in sustained-release form is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of patients with acute musculoskeletal inflammatory conditions.

Keywords

• Aceclofenac
• muscle relaxant
• musculoskeletal pain
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• thiocolchicoside