Study objective: To determine whether prescribing a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) starter pack for chronic musculoskeletal pain expedites the process of finding an appropriate drug for a given patient.
Design: Prospective patient interviews.
Setting: Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Patients: Sixty-four patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain were prescribed NSAID starter packs. Of those, 42% were interviewed and their data evaluated.
Intervention: Between March and June 2001, patients received starter packs containing 1-week supplies of the following NSAIDs: ibuprofen, salsalate, etodolac, naproxen, sulindac, and piroxicam. The patients took one drug each week, then returned to their providers to receive a prescription for the agent that was considered most effective and tolerable.
Measurements and main results: Patients assessed pain each day based on a numeric pain-rating scale. During telephone interviews, seven patients reported better pain control when they were able to select a drug from the starter pack than when they were prescribed a specific drug by their providers. Providers rated the starter pack as easy to use by patients and generally effective for finding the best NSAID for a particular patient. Drugs prescribed after completing the starter pack were salsalate 25.9%, piroxicam 22.2%, etodolac 14.8%, ibuprofen 14.8%, naproxen 11.1%, celecoxib 7.4%, and an opiate 3.7%.
Conclusion: The NSAID starter pack appears to be a successful method for quickly and easily finding an NSAID that is effective and tolerated.