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. 2014 Mar;3(2):118-125.
doi: 10.1002/cpdd.39. Epub 2013 Aug 20.

Analgesic and Decongestant Efficacy of the Combination of Aspirin with Pseudoephedrine in Patients With Symptoms of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

Ronald Eccles  1 , Michael Voelker  2
Affiliations

Analgesic and Decongestant Efficacy of the Combination of Aspirin with Pseudoephedrine in Patients With Symptoms of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

Ronald Eccles et al. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev. 2014 Mar.

Abstract

The study investigated the efficacy and safety of a combination therapy of 1,000 mg aspirin (ASA) and 60 mg pseudoephedrine (PSE) on the symptoms of pain (combined score for headache and sore throat) and nasal congestion in 833 patients with acute upper respiratory tract viral infection (URTI), over 4 hours after a single dose in the clinic and over 3 days with multiple doses at home. The study demonstrated that over 4 hours in the clinic the combination ASA plus PSE was superior to PSE or placebo for relief of pain symptoms measured subjectively with pain scores, and was superior to ASA or placebo for relief of nasal congestion as measured objectively with rhinomanometry and subjectively with congestion scores. After 3 days of treatment, ASA plus PSE was superior to PSE but not to placebo or ASA for global pain assessments, and ASA plus PSE was superior to ASA and placebo but not to PSE for congestion assessments. No unexpected adverse events occurred and no serious adverse events were attributed to study medicines. This study demonstrates that a combination therapy of ASA plus PSE provides safe and effective relief of both common cold pain related symptoms and nasal congestion.

Keywords: acetylsalicylic acid; acute pain; aspirin; common cold; headache; nasal congestion; pharyngitis; pseudoephedrine; rhinomanometry; sore throat pain; upper respiratory tract infection.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Mean (± SEM) nasal airflow conductance (cm3 second) before and up to 4 hours after dosing.
Fig 2
Fig 2
Mean (± SEM) nasal congestion relief score before and up to 4 hours after dosing.
Fig 3
Fig 3
Mean (± SEM) pain relief score before and up to 4 hours after dosing.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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