Comparison of ketoprofen and naproxen in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea, with special regard to the time of onset of pain relief

Abstract

In a double-blind, crossover study in 39 women with dysmenorrhoea, the effects of oral treatment with single doses of 100 mg ketoprofen and 500 mg naproxen were compared with regard to time for onset of pain relief and overall effect on symptoms. Assessments of pain severity using a visual analogue scale and an activity-related scale were made at 15-minute intervals for 2.5 hours. The results showed that ketoprofen was significantly more effective at 60 and 45 minutes, respectively, after intake of medicine and the differences remained significant until 120 and 105 minutes, respectively. Reduction in original pain by 50%, the patient's view on the overall effect after each treatment as well as a comparison of effects at the end of the study all differed significantly in favour of ketoprofen. No significant differences were found between treatments in the need for additional analgesic therapy after the 2-hour observation period or in the incidence of side-effects, which was low with both medications. It is suggested that ketoprofen could have a therapeutic advantage over naproxen, particularly in patients in whom menstrual pain develops rapidly.