Evaluation of bromfenac, aspirin, and ibuprofen in postoperative oral surgery pain

Abstract

Two hundred forty-one outpatients with postoperative pain after the surgical removal of impacted third molars were randomly assigned, on a double-blind basis, to receive a single oral dose of bromfenac 5, 10, or 25 mg, aspirin 650 mg, ibuprofen 400 mg, or placebo. Using a self-rating record, subjects rated their pain and its relief for 8 hours after medicating. Estimates of summed pain intensity difference, peak pain intensity difference, total relief, peak relief, and hours of 50% relief were derived from these subjective reports. All active treatments were significantly superior to placebo, and the slope of the dose-response curve for bromfenac was significant. Bromfenac 5 mg and aspirin 650 mg were equianalgesic; bromfenac 25 mg was slightly more efficacious than ibuprofen 400 mg. Bromfenac 25 mg and ibuprofen 400 mg were significantly superior to the other active treatments. Adverse effects were transient and consistent with the pharmacologic profiles of the medications evaluated.