Solubilized ibuprofen: evaluation of onset, relief, and safety of a novel formulation in the treatment of episodic tension-type headache.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relative efficacy of a new solubilized formulation of ibuprofen compared with acetaminophen caplets.


METHODS
This double-blind, randomized, parallel group study evaluated 154 subjects taking a single dose of solubilized ibuprofen, 400 mg; acetaminophen, 1000 mg; or placebo for the relief of episodic tension-type headache. Time to relief was measured using a stopwatch, and overall efficacy was measured using traditional categorical pain and relief scales.


RESULTS
Ibuprofen capsules (liquigel), 400 mg, were significantly faster than both acetaminophen, 1000 mg, and placebo for all time-to-relief measures. Ibuprofen liquigel had a median time to first perceptible pain relief of 39 minutes compared with 47 minutes for acetaminophen and 113 minutes for placebo. For median time to meaningful relief, ibuprofen liquigel had a time of 39 minutes compared with 53 minutes for acetaminophen and more than 180 minutes for placebo (P</=.02 for both measures). In addition, ibuprofen liquigels demonstrated significantly superior overall analgesic efficacy compared with acetaminophen, 1000 mg, for the relief of episodic tension-type headache. Both active treatments had a side effect profile similar to placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
Although several other studies have demonstrated the overall analgesic superiority of ibuprofen to acetaminophen, this study demonstrated that the liquigel formulation also provides a clinically relevant advantage for time to analgesic effects.
Packman
B
B
Institute for Applied Pharmaceutical Research, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Packman
E
E
Doyle
G
G
Cooper
S
S
Ashraf
E
E
Koronkiewicz
K
K
Jayawardena
S
S
D000042:Absorption; D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002214:Capsules; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D012008:Recurrence; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D002214:Capsules; D005782:Gels; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D000082:Acetaminophen; D007052:Ibuprofen