Clinical comparison of dexketoprofen trometamol, ketoprofen, and placebo in postoperative dental pain

The efficacy and tolerability of single doses of dexketoprofen trometamol 1 2.5 mg, 25 mg, and 50 mg and ketoprofen 50 mg were compared in this double- blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 210 patients with moderate t o severe pain after removal of one mandibular impacted third molar tooth. P ain intensity and pain relief were monitored for 6 h after administration o f medication using visual analogue and verbal rating scales. All four activ e treatments were significantly more effective than placebo (P < 0.001). De xketoprofen 25 mg and 50 mg produced an analgesic effect within 30 min of a dministration and their effect persisted for 6 h. Ketoprofen 50 mg produced a level of analgesia similar to those of the higher doses of dexketoprofen trometamol, but it had a slower onset. The 12.5-mg dose of dexketoprofen t rometamol was significantly superior to placebo but produced a lower level and shorter duration of analgesia compared to the other active treatments. There rr ere no significant differences between 25 and 50 mg of dexketoprof en trometamol in any measure of analgesic efficacy No serious adverse event s were observed and there were no significant differences in the incidence of adverse events among treatment groups. These results demonstrate that de xketoprofen trometamol 25 mg is at least as effective as the racemic ketopr ofen 50 mg in the treatment of postsurgical dental pain. The more rapid ons et of action compared to ketoprofen suggests that dexketoprofen trometamol is more appropriate for treatment of acute pain. Journal of Clinical Pharma cology, 1998;38:46S-54S (C) 1998 The American College of Clinical Pharmacol ogy.