Evaluation of ketorolac, ibuprofen-paracetamol, and dextropropoxyphene-paracetamol in postoperative pain.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the analgesic efficacy of ketorolac, ibuprofen-paracetamol (acetaminophen), and dextropropoxyphene-paracetamol in postoperative pain.


METHODS
Randomized, double-blind, parallel, single-dose study.


METHODS
Multicenter, with five centers participating.


METHODS
One hundred sixty patients with moderate to severe postoperative pain requiring oral analgesics were enrolled. Seventeen patients were excluded from final analysis due to deviation from protocol.


METHODS
Ketorolac tromethamine 10 mg, a combination of ibuprofen 400 mg plus paracetamol 325 mg, or a combination of dextropropoxyphene 65 mg plus paracetamol 400 mg was given orally to patients with moderate to severe baseline pain.


RESULTS
Pain intensity and pain relief scores were rated at baseline, at 30 minutes, and hourly to 6 hours. Until the end of first hour, analgesia was similar for all three regimens. Ketorolac had a significantly higher analgesic effect than the two combinations between hours 2 and 6. Analgesia was similar for the two combinations. For all three test drugs the frequency of adverse effects was similar.


CONCLUSIONS
Ketorolac 10 mg is a superior analgesic to ibuprofen-paracetamol or dextropropoxyphene-paracetamol in the treatment of postoperative pain.
Naidu
M U
MU
Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Punjagutta, Hyderabad, India.
Kumar
T R
TR
Jagdishchandra
U S
US
Babu
P A
PA
Rao
M M
MM
Babhulkar
S S
SS
Rao
P T
PT
Risbud
Y
Y
Shah
R
R
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011431:Dextropropoxyphene / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020911:Ketorolac Tromethamine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014046:Tolmetin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014325:Tromethamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D014325:Tromethamine; D000082:Acetaminophen; D020911:Ketorolac Tromethamine; D014046:Tolmetin; D011431:Dextropropoxyphene