Diclofenac dispersible provides superior analgesia with faster onset of action compared to naproxen granular in patients with acute, painful, minor sports injuries.
BACKGROUND
To compare the efficacy and tolerability of single doses of diclofenac dispersible and naproxen granular in patients with acute, painful, minor sports injuries.


METHODS
Forty-eight adult outpatients with moderate-to-severe pain on movement, following a traumatic event < or = 36 hours previously, participated in this double-blind, between-patient comparative study. Patients were randomised in equal comparative study. Patients were randomised in equal number to receive diclofenac dispersible 50 mg or naproxen granular 500 mg. Pain on movement, pain on pressure, spontaneous pain and pain relief were assessed at 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes and 4 hours after dosing.


RESULTS
Both treatments were effective at reducing pain from the 15 minute time point. At 15 minutes there was no significant difference between the treatments for pain on movement (p = 0.4) but diclofenac was significantly superior to naproxen with respect to pain on pressure (p = 0.004), spontaneous pain (p = 0.0022) and pain relief (p = 0.034). In addition, diclofenac was significantly superior to naproxen with respect to AUC0-4 hours for percentage reduction in intensity of pain on movement (p = 0.04) and spontaneous pain (p = 0.0047), and for pain relief scores (p = 0.015). Both treatments were well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
The study results suggest that diclofenac dispersible 50 mg provides faster and overall better analgesia compared to naproxen granular 500 mg in the acute relief of pain following minor sports injuries.
Colombo
G
G
Institute of Sport Science, Department of Sport Medicine, Rome, Italy.
Giombini
A
A
Pamich
T
T
Peruzzi
E
E
Pisati
R
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D009288:Naproxen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011312:Pressure; D012449:Safety; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004008:Diclofenac; D009288:Naproxen