Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial comparing rofecoxib with dexketoprofen trometamol in surgical dentistry

• Published in: British journal of anaesthesia : BJA Vol. 92; no. 5; pp. 675 - 680
• Main Authors: Jackson, I.D., Heidemann, B.H., Wilson, J, Power, I, Brown, R.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2004; Oxford University Press; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Adult; anaesthesia; anaesthesia, dental; Anesthesia; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; COX‐2 inhibitors; Cyclooxygenase 2; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; dental; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Isoenzymes - antagonists & inhibitors; Ketoprofen - analogs & derivatives; Ketoprofen - therapeutic use; Lactones - therapeutic use; Male; Medical sciences; Membrane Proteins; Middle Aged; Molar, Third - surgery; pain; Pain Measurement; Pain, Postoperative - drug therapy; pharmacology; pharmacology, COX-2 inhibitors; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; Sulfones; Tooth Extraction; Tromethamine - analogs & derivatives; Tromethamine - therapeutic use; pain; pharmacology, COX-2 inhibitors; anaesthesia, dental; anaesthesia, dental; pain; pharmacology, COX‐2 inhibitors; Removal; COX-2 inhibitors; Rofecoxib; Toxicity; Cyclooxygenase 2; dental; pain; pharmacology; Isomer; Randomization; Trometamol; Pain; Monitor; Surgery; Primary; Human; Drug; Enzyme; Acute; Dentistry; Non steroidal antiinflammatory agent; Dexketoprofen; Treatment; Double blind study; Inhibitor; Oxidoreductases; anaesthesia
• ISSN: 0007-0912; 1471-6771
• DOI: 10.1093/bja/aeh131

Rofecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, and dexketoprofen trometamol, a single isomer non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), are available for the treatment of acute pain. Both are claimed to have fewer adverse effects than traditional NSAIDs. We have compared them in a clinical setting. We performed a double-blind randomized controlled trial involving 120 patients undergoing surgical removal of a single mandibular third molar at the Edinburgh Dental Institute. Those who developed moderate pain within 4 h of the procedure were allocated to one of three groups: rofecoxib 50 mg (Group RO, n=37); dexketoprofen trometamol 25 mg (Group DE, n=42); or placebo (Group PL, n=41). Participants monitored pain intensity and pain relief for 24 h using visual analogue scales (VAS) and verbal rating scales (VRS). The summed, time-weighted pain relief score to 8 h derived from the VRS (TOTPAR 8) was used as the primary outcome variable. No significant difference was demonstrated between Groups RO and DE using TOTPAR 8 as the primary outcome variable. Both drugs were significantly different compared with placebo. Rescue analgesia during the trial period was required by only 15 out of 37 subjects in Group RO, but 35 out of 42 subjects in Group DE. The median times to use of rescue medication were 150 (Group PL), 398 (Group DE) and 1440 min (Group RO). Both drugs were well tolerated and adverse events reported were mild to moderate in severity. Rofecoxib and dexketoprofen trometamol are effective treatments for acute pain using a dental pain model and are well tolerated. Rofecoxib has a longer duration of action as a single dose and gave adequate analgesia for over half of that study group; patients in the dexketoprofen trometamol group needed more rescue analgesia.