There were three hospitalisations due to gastrointestinal adverse events among the 4,635 meloxicam users and 11 in the diclofenac group of 4688 osteoarthritis patients. But the group's total hospital stays were five and 124 days respectively, with a mean admission of 1.7 and 11.3 days respectively. So celecoxib and rofecoxib should prove cost effective. In other words, meloxicam's price falls between generics and rofecoxib. However, celecoxib's and rofecoxib's impact on hospitalisation and consultation rates in practice remains unresolved.
Newer drugs reduce the risk of gastrointestinal side effects and appear to be cost effective.
While generics initially appear cheaper they are still associated with a greater risk of side effects. Dr Lambert is a consultant rheumatologist at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.