[A comparative evaluation of the remission from acute lumbar-sciatic pain following treatment with meclofenamic acid and naproxen].

Abstract

This study was performed to assess the analgesic effect and the onset of action of meclofenamic acid compared with naproxene in patients affected by acute lumbar-sciatic pain. Thirty patients of both sexes were randomly allocated to 2 groups of 15 patients each; the first group was treated with meclofenamic acid (200 mg b.i.d.) and the second with naproxene (500 mg b.i.d.). Both drugs were administered as suppositories for a week. The intensity of pain, both at rest and after movement, was assessed by means of analogic scales at basal time and 15, 30, 60, 180, 360 minutes, 4 and 8 days after the first administration. Both types of pain were significantly decreased with respect to basal values in meclofenamic acid group (P < 0.01), 60 minutes after onset of treatment, while in the naproxene group the effect was later. Moreover the analgesic effect was significantly greater in the meclofenamic acid group with respect to the naproxene group, after 15 minutes for pain at rest (P < 0.05) and after 30 minutes for pain after movement (P < 0.02). Similarly, after 4 and 8 days, both types of pain improved to a larger extent in the meclofenamic acid group with respect to the naproxene group (P < 0.05 after four days and P < 0.01 after eight days). This study has shown that meclofenamic acid has greater efficacy and faster analgesic effect than naproxene. Meclofenamic acid has proved to be a drug of choice in the treatment of slight to moderate musculo-skeletal pain syndromes.

• Authors: C Mele, G Fontanesi
• Journal: La Clinica terapeutica (Clin Ter) Vol. 142 Issue 2 Pg. 107-13 (Feb 1993) ISSN: 0009-9074 [Print] Italy
• Vernacular Title: Valutazione comparativa sulla remissione del dolore lombosciatalgico acuto dopo trattamento con acido meclofenamico e naprossene.
• PMID: 8472523 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, English Abstract, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Meclofenamic Acid
• Naproxen

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Administration, Rectal
• Adult
• Aged
• Chi-Square Distribution
• Drug Tolerance
• Female
• Humans
• Low Back Pain (drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Male
• Meclofenamic Acid (therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Naproxen (therapeutic use)
• Remission Induction
• Sciatica (drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Time Factors