The refief of primary dysmenorrhea by ketoprofen and indomethacin.
The prostaglandin biosynthesis inhibitors ketoprofen and indomethacin were compared in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea in a double-blind, cross-over trial involving 23 patients. Each drug was used for 2-4 days during 3 consecutive menstruations in randomized order. Good or moderate overall relief was obtained in 60 of the 68 ketoprofen-treated menstruations (88%). A dysmenorrhea score, based on subjective estimations of 8 symptoms, similarly decreased from a mean (+/- S.E.M.) basal level of 9.6 +/- 0.6 to 3.6 +/- 0.3 during ketoprofen treatment and to 4.0 +/- 0.3 during indomethacin. Both drugs relieved pelvic and lower back pains and eliminated vomiting and diarrhea in 82-97% of the cycles whereas headache, fatigue and nervousness were less frequently alleviated (40-67%). Eighteen of the 23 women (78%) had been unable to work during the first day of menstruation, the rate of working days lost was reduced to 4% with ketoprofen and 9 with indomethacin. Mild side-effects occurred during 12 ketoprofen and 14 indomethacin therapies. Ketoprofen thus seems to be as effective and tolerable as  indomethacin in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007660:Ketoprofen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008598:Menstruation / Q000187:drug effects; D010666:Phenylpropionates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011448:Prostaglandin Antagonists; D011897:Random Allocation; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation
D010666:Phenylpropionates; D011448:Prostaglandin Antagonists; D007660:Ketoprofen; D007213:Indomethacin