Etoricoxib can be used for chronic nonspecific back pain: a new indication of the well-known drug

Abstract

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the main class of analgesics for the relief of acute nonspecific back pain (NSBP) and for the control of chronic one (CNSBP). The choice of a NSAID is determined by the efficacy, ease of use, and safety profile of a particular drug. Etoricoxib is one of the most successful representatives of NSAIDs, which is advisable to be used in CNSBP. Double-blind, controlled studies of patients with CNSBP have indicated that etoricoxib at a dose of 60 mg/day is significantly superior to placebo and that at a dose of 150 mg/day is not inferior to diclofenac. The important advantages of etoricoxib are its good tolerance and a relatively low risk of gastrointestinal complications. The frequency of cardiovascular and renal complications with etoricoxib is not higher than those with the most popular nonselective NSAIDs. In 2020, etoricoxib was included in the number of official indications approved by the Ministry of Health of Russia for the treatment of chronic lower back pain.

Keywords

• back pain
• chronic nonspecific back pain
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• etoricoxib
• efficacy
• safety