Comparison of diflunisal and an aspirin-codeine combination in the management of patients having one-visit endodontic therapy.
One hundred seventy-nine patients with asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic endodontic disease had single-visit therapy and were given either diflunisal (n = 94) or aspirin with codeine (n = 85) to control posttreatment pain. In this open-label, randomized study, diflunisal was judged superior to the aspirin-codeine combination in all major categories evaluated. Of patients receiving diflunisal, 93.6% needed the medication for only one day. In contrast, 77.7% of patients receiving aspirin with codeine needed the medication for only one day. Almost 64% of patients receiving diflunisal needed only one dose, while 32.9% of patients using aspirin with codeine needed only one dose. Four or more doses were required by 5.3% of patients receiving diflunisal and by 23.5% of patients receiving the aspirin-codeine combination. In patients receiving diflunisal, 20.2% experienced side effects. In contrast, 29.4% of patients receiving aspirin with codeine reported side effects. Thirty-five percent of patients receiving diflunisal rated the analgesic as excellent; 5.3% rated it as fair or poor. In contrast, 12.9% of patients receiving aspirin with codeine rated the analgesic combination as excellent; another 12.9% rated it as fair or poor. Diflunisal was found to be generally effective and well-tolerated, and superior to aspirin with codeine in the management of pain from endodontic treatment.
Morse
D R
DR
Department of Endodontology, Temple University School of Dentistry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Furst
M L
ML
Koren
L Z
LZ
Bolanos
O R
OR
Esposito
J V
JV
Yesilsoy
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003061:Codeine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004061:Diflunisal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012390:Root Canal Therapy; D012459:Salicylates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D004338:Drug Combinations; D012459:Salicylates; D004061:Diflunisal; D001241:Aspirin; D003061:Codeine