Evaluation of diazepam (valium) in the symptomatic treatment of rheumatic disorders: A controlled comparative study

Abstract

1. 1. Diazepam was compared with chlormezanone and carisoprodol in the symptomatic treatment of chronic rheumatic disorders. 2. 2. Sixty-five patients with active arthritis (rheumatoid, osteo-, or gouty), or fibrositis, received 2-week courses of each drug in random sequence, utilizing a double-blind cross-over technique. Administered in matching capsules, the average daily dosages amounted to 7.5 mg of diazepam, or 600 mg of chlormezanone, or 1050 mg of carisoprodol. 3. 3. Clinical response to each agent was measured by the relative degree of improvement in five symptoms—muscle spasm, pain, limitation of motion, anxiety and tension, and interference with daily activities—over the symptom severity present before each drug course. The differences in averaged symptom improvement scores (of each group of patients on each drug) represented the relative efficacy of each drug in relieving each symptom. 4. 4. Over-all results showed: 24 per cent of the diazepam-treated patients became symptom-free vs. 11 per cent on each of the two other drugs; in approximately 65 per cent of patients on each drug, moderate improvement was achieved, while only minimal improvement occurred in 11 per cent of those on diazepam vs. 24 per cent on each of the other drugs. Two patients, one on carisoprodol and one on chlormezanone, were unimproved. 5. 5. The differences in scored results between pairs of the 3 drugs, submitted to statistical analysis, indicated that diazepam effected significantly greater symptomatic improvement than did chlormezanone or carisoprodol. 6. 6. Side-effects occurred in 27 patients during diazepam therapy, in 38 on chlormezanone, and in 34 on carisoprodol; drowsiness was the most common side-reaction with each drug; none was of sufficient severity to discontinue medications.