title: Efficacy of meclofenamate sodium versus placebo in headache and craniofacial pain.
abstract: Twenty patients were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of meclofenamate sodium in headache and craniofacial pain. There were four observation periods of 15 days each: Period 1 was a wash-out period. In period 2, subjects were randomly assigned to a 15-day regimen of taking two capsules a day of 100mg meclofenamate sodium (group 1) or placebo (group 2). In period 3, group 1 was switched to placebo and group 2 to meclofenamate sodium for the next 15 days. Lastly, the patients took no medication for a further 15 days (period 4). A thermographic record of the craniofacial and neck areas was taken at the end of periods 1 and 4. A record of the pressure threshold and tissue compliance at different sites of the craniofacial, neck and shoulder areas was taken at the end of each period. During the trial, number and duration of painful events were recorded daily by the patients, and the level of pain evaluated on a visual analog scale. Mean data were analyzed for significant difference by ANOVA and paired t-test. During the meclofenamate sodium period, there was a significant decrease of days with painful events compared to the wash-out period in group 1 and compared to the placebo period in group 2. In the majority of patients, the meclofenamate sodium period scored lowest or second-lowest after the follow-up period in mean pain intensity. Data for pressure threshold, although not significant, were indicative of a possible increase during and after intake of meclofenamate sodium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: University of Turin, Center for Craniofacial Pathophysiology, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mongini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bona
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garnero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gioria
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008469:Meclofenamic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D013817:Thermography
chemical_list: D008469:Meclofenamic Acid