Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as the first step in cancer pain therapy: double-blind, within-patient study comparing nine drugs

• Published in: Journal of international medical research Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 21 - 29
• Main Authors: VENTAFRIDDA, V, DE CONNO, F, PANERAI, A. E, MARESCA, V, MONZA, G. C, RIPAMONTI, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Worthing Cambridge Medical Publications 1990
• Subjects: Acetaminophen - therapeutic use; Adult; Aged; Analgesics; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - therapeutic use; Aspirin - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Diclofenac - therapeutic use; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Ibuprofen - therapeutic use; Indomethacin - therapeutic use; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Naproxen - therapeutic use; Neoplasms - complications; Neuropharmacology; Pain - drug therapy; Pain - etiology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phenylpropionates - therapeutic use; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sulindac - therapeutic use; Suprofen - therapeutic use; Non steroidal antiinflammatory agent; Human; Chemotherapy; Analgesic; Pain; Treatment; Tolerance; Tumor
• ISSN: 0300-0605; 1473-2300

The efficacy and tolerability of acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, diclofenac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, pirprofen, sulindac, naproxen and suprofen were compared in the treatment of cancer pain. In a double-blind, within-patient randomized study, each drug was given for 1 week to eight patients and for another week to a further eight patients. A total of 65 patients were effectively treated; only 48 completed week 1 and 41 completed week 2. Naproxen, diclofenac and indomethacin were highly effective in pain relief (tested by means of a 100 mm visual analogue scale) and were relatively well tolerated. It is concluded that these non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be considered as first choice in the treatment of cancer pain.