The efficacy and tolerance of
proquazone, 900 mg, and
ibuprofen, 1200 mg, were compared in a randomized, double-blind clinical trial of 6 months' duration, with 44 patients, 21 on
proquazone and 23 on
ibuprofen. Comparison of
proquazone-treated patients with patients treated with iburofen showed a significantly better improvement , as is demonstrated by the significant differences in the Lansbury Index, in nocturnal
pain, final assessment of
therapeutic effect, and number of interruptions due to lack of efficacy. All differences were in favour of
proquazone, proving its therapeutic superiority over
ibuprofen. The side effects in the
proquazone group were mainly gastrointestinal, and 2 patients broke off treatment prematurely due to diarrhoea (in one patient, lack of efficacy was a contributory cause). A third patient discontinued because of moderate
nausea and
dizziness. In the
ibuprofen group, 4 patients discontinued because of side effects (skin eruptions,
dizziness, epigastric discomfort, and one
thrombocytopenia) in addition to lack of efficacy.
Proquazone seems to be an effective and well tolerated anti-inflammatory
analgesic.