Evaluation of the Analgesic Efficacy of Dexketoprofen Added to Paracetamol

Comparative evaluation of intravenous dexketoprofen and paracetamol in the management of pain induced by sore throat

OBJECTIVES

Sore throat is one of the most prevalent causes of emergency visits. The chief purpose of this clinical report is to investigate the effectiveness of intravenous (IV) dexketoprofen and paracetamol drugs relative to each other in relieving the pain induced by sore throat in emergency visits.

METHODS

This prospective, randomised, double-blind, controlled study was conducted at a tertiary-level emergency unit. The eligible population (n = 200) with confirmed pharyngitis diagnosis on the Tonsillo Pharyngitis Assessment and moderate to severe sore throat was randomly divided into two cohorts to be administered with 50 mg of dexketoprofen (n = 98) or 1000-mg paracetamol (n = 102). The study drugs dissolved in 150-mL saline were administered by rapid IV infusion. All the recruited patients were re-assessed by Sore Throat Pain Intensity Scale (STPIS), Difficulty Swallowing Scale (DSS) and Swollen Throat Scale (SwoTS) at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 minutes. In addition, presence of sore throat was re-evaluated by Sore Throat Relief Scale (STRS) at these time points.

RESULTS

A total of 200 patients completed the study. The median age in dexketoprofen and paracetamol cohort was 25 (18-57) and 29 (17-76), respectively. Dexketoprofen and paracetamol provided relief in sore throat pain, with Total Pain Relief scores (TOTPAR_0-120 min ) being 5.68 ± 2.06 mm in the former case and 6.03 ± 1.76 mm in the latter (P > .05). The IV administration of paracetamol and dexketoprofen decreased STPIS, DSS and SwoTS scores over time, while increasing STRS scores. The average value of STRS was measured as 4.41 ± 1.18 in the paracetamol cohort and 4.15 ± 1.23 in the dexketoprofen cohort during 0-120 minutes (P = .545).

CONCLUSION

In emergency department, IV dexketoprofen and paracetamol reduced sore throat pain equally, providing similar analgesic efficacy.

Intravenous Dexketoprofen versus Intravenous Paracetamol for Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common acute pain disorders among women of reproductive age.

AIMS

To compare the effects of IV paracetamol with dexketoprofen in patients presenting with primary dysmenorrhea to the emergency department.

STUDY DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

Patients over 18 years old presenting with pelvic pain related to menstruation were eligible for the study. Study patients received 1 g paracetamol or 50 mg dexketoprofen in 100 mL normal saline with a 4-5 minute infusion via the intravenous route. Pain intensity was measured by a visual analog scale at 15 and 30 minutes. Patients were randomized and assigned to either of two study arms via sealed envelopes. Study drugs were identical in color, and thus both personnel and patients were blinded to the study drug. The dexketoprofen group comprised 49 patients, and the paracetamol group had 50 patients in the final analysis.

RESULTS

The mean age of the study subjects was 20.9±2.5 and the mean duration of the pain was 1.9±1.7 (median: 1, interquartile range: 1 to 2) hours. Both dexketoprofen (median change: 33, 95% CI: 24 to 38) and paracetamol (median change: 21, 95% CI: 12 to 32) effectively reduced the pain at 15 minutes, which was repeated at 30 minutes (median change: 63, 95% CI: 57 to 65 vs 55.5, 95% CI: 50 to 59, respectively). Pain improvement in the dexketoprofen group was better than in the paracetamol group at 15 (median difference: 8, 95% CI: 0 to 16, p=0.048) and 30 (median difference: 6, 95% CI: 1 to 12, p=0.028) minutes, which was statistically significant but not clinically significant.

CONCLUSION

Dexketotoprofen has a better visual analogue scale score that is not clinically relevant compared to paracetamol.