A Method for the 12-Hour Evaluation of Analgesic Efficacy in Outpatients with Postoperative Oral Surgery Pain: Three Studies of Diflunisal

Abstract

We have developed a method for measuring the efficacy of a single dose of an analgesic for 12 hours after administration to outpatients with postoperative oral surgery pain. Using a self-rating record, patients evaluate their pain and its relief for 12 hours after medication. We have used this method successfully in a series of three studies to compare diflunisal, a new nonsteroidal antiinflammatory analgesic, with placebo and aspirin 650 mg, acetaminophen 600 mg, propoxyphene napsylate 100 mg, or a combination of acetaminophen with either codeine 60 mg or propoxyphene 100 mg. Diflunisal evinced an unusually long duration of analgesic effect. In each study, all doses of diflunisal were significantly superior to placebo through the end of the 12-hour observation period, while the standards were superior for periods ranging from 2 to 7 hours. In terms of peak analgesia, diflunisal 1,000 mg was comparable to the acetaminophen-codeine combination and was significantly superior to all the other analgesic standards.