ZOMEPIRAC, PLACEBO AND PARACETAMOL/DEXTROPROPOXYPHENE COMBINATION COMPARED IN ORTHOPAEDIC POSTOPERATIVE PAIN

Abstract

Zomepirac sodium was studied at 2 doses (50 or 100 mg) against a dextropropoxyphene/paracetamol combination and placebo in a double-blind randomized trial. Patients (120) with moderate to severe pain after minor orthopedic surgery were studied. Zomepirac 50 mg showed consistently significant analgesic effect compared with placebo. The standard analgesic was significantly different from placebo only for pain relief and observer global assessment. Zomepirac 100 mg showed no statistically significant difference from placebo on any analgesic measurement. Zomepirac 50 mg was at least therapeutically equivalent to the dextropropoxyphene/paracetamol combination and may have advantages with regard to toxicity.