Table 3.
Adverse effects of different topical NSAIDs compared with placebo according to network meta-analysis in RCTs
| Treatment | OR (95% CI) | SUCRA (%) |
| Skin AE | ||
| Placebo | Reference | 62.0 |
| Diclofenac gel | 1.58 (0.58 to 4.87) | 39.8 |
| Diclofenac solution | 1.78 (0.79 to 4.08) | 34.1 |
| Diclofenac patch | 0.94 (0.11 to 7.11) | 57.6 |
| Ketoprofen | 1.17 (0.48 to 2.96) | 52.8 |
| Eltenac | 1.19 (0.20 to 6.57) | 51.0 |
| Ibuprofen | 0.93 (0.02 to 62.38) | 54.4 |
| Nimesulide | 1.14 (0.05 to 58.10) | 50.5 |
| Salicylate | 5.34 (0.68 to 43.38) | 12.8 |
| Piroxicam | 1.49 (0.34 to 7.11) | 43.2 |
| Indomethacin | 0.07 (0.00 to 2.37) | 92.0 |
| GI AE | ||
| Placebo | Reference | 45.3 |
| Diclofenac gel | 1.25 (0.52 to 2.59) | 30.1 |
| Diclofenac solution | 0.99 (0.54 to 1.86) | 46.3 |
| Diclofenac patch | 0.99 (0.06 to 23.14) | 47.9 |
| Ketoprofen | 0.82 (0.41 to 1.64) | 62.2 |
| Eltenac | 0.62 (0.14 to 2.86) | 69.6 |
| Salicylate | 0.97 (0.21 to 4.54) | 48.5 |
| Withdrawal due to AE | ||
| Placebo | Reference | 78.0 |
| Diclofenac gel | 1.93 (0.94 to 3.91) | 38.8 |
| Diclofenac solution | 1.43 (0.73 to 2.86) | 54.2 |
| Diclofenac patch | 0.47 (0.03 to 3.70) | 85.9 |
| Ketoprofen gel | 1.40 (0.80 to 2.55) | 54.8 |
| Eltenac gel | 1.27 (0.11 to 35.04) | 57.3 |
| Salicylate gel | 16.83 (2.12 to 499.3) | 37.5 |
| Indomethacin | 3.22 (0.63 to 17.43) | 27.2 |
AE, adverse effect; GI, gastrointestinal; RCTs, randomised controlled trials; SUCRA, surface under the cumulative ranking.