title: Analgesic efficacy of tramadol/acetaminophen and propoxyphene/acetaminophen for relief of postoperative wound pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Weak opioid combined with acetaminophen (APAP) has been proven to provide better analgesic efficacy and cause fewer complications than either drug alone. However, there are questions about whether different opioids, tramadol and propoxyphene, provide similar efficacy or safety. Thus, we investigated Ultracet (37.5 mg tramadol/325 mg APAP) and Depain-X (65 mg propoxyphene/650 mg APAP). The primary aims of this study were to compare the analgesic efficacy and adverse effects of single-dose oral Ultracet versus Depain-X in acute postoperative pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a randomized, open-label, active-controlled parallel study on patients with postsurgical pain. Sixty patients who sustained moderate postsurgical pain (visual analog scale(3)3 cm) after undergoing implantation of venous access were randomized to two groups to receive either Ultracetor Depain-X for postoperative analgesia. Assessment items included pain intensity and pain relief ratings at the first 4 hours, and adverse events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were initially 107 patients who were enrolled in this trial, but up to 45 (42.1%) of them were withdrawn during the study. In these 62 patients who complied with treatment (Ultracet: Depain-X = 29: 33), pain relief scale indicated that Ultracet could provide a better analgesic effect than Depain-X provided at 1 hour (p < 0.05). At 4 hours, the pain score in the Ultracet group was significantly lower than that in the Depain-X group (p < 0.05). Adverse events, such as drowsiness, dizziness, and skin itching did not differ in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among patients with mild to moderate postoperative wound pain, single-dose Ultracet can provide slightly better analgesic efficacy than Depain-X in terms of onset and duration. Depain-X is no longer marketed in Europe, America, Taiwan and other countries, therefore, Ultracet can serve as a good substitute for treating postoperative pain.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Feng-Sheng
authors: FS
authors: Lin
authors: Wen-Ying
authors: WY
authors: Lin
authors: Chia-Hsin
authors: CH
authors: Lai
authors: Chien-Yu
authors: CY
authors: Chen
authors: Chih-Peng
authors: CP
authors: Lin
authors: Tzu-Fu
authors: TF
authors: Lin
authors: Wei-Zen
authors: WZ
authors: Sun
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011431:Dextropropoxyphene / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014147:Tramadol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000082:Acetaminophen; C011800:acetaminophen, dextropropoxyphene, drug combination; D014147:Tramadol; D011431:Dextropropoxyphene