Table 6: Use of medications among patients with osteoarthritis (n = 29 562).
| Drug class | Patients, no. (%) | Agent | Patients, no. (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acetaminophen (alone or in combination) | 7 424 | (25.1) | Acetaminophen alone | 4 725 | (16.0) |
| Acetaminophen in combination | 2 699 | (9.1) | |||
| NSAIDs | 16 732 | (56.6) | Celecoxib | 5 022 | (17.0) |
| Diclofenac* | 8 752 | (29.6) | |||
| Ibuprofen | 1 210 | (4.1) | |||
| Meloxicam | 1 963 | (6.6) | |||
| Naproxen | 5 885 | (19.9) | |||
| Other NSAIDs† | 3 023 | (10.2) | |||
| Narcotics | 9 761 | (33.0) | Codeine | 6 881 | (23.3) |
| Hydrocodone | 462 | (1.6) | |||
| Hydromorphone | 1 164 | (3.9) | |||
| Morphine | 784 | (2.7) | |||
| Oxycodone | 1 488 | (5.0) | |||
| Tramadol | 2 299 | (7.8) | |||
Note: NSAID = nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. *There were 4 808 patients with prescriptions for diclofenac, about 45% of which were in the form of topical gel or cream. †Diflunisal, etodolac, floctafenine, flurbiprofen, indometacin, ketoprofen, ketorolac, lumiracoxib, nabumetone, piroxicam, rofecoxib, sulindac, tiaprofenic acid and valdecoxib.