The relative analgesic efficacy of propiram fumarate, codeine, aspirin, and placebo in post-impaction dental pain

Abstract

To evaluate the analgesic efficacy of orally administered 50 mg propiram fumarate, 650 mg aspirin, 60 mg codeine phosphate, and placebo in acute post-impaction dental pain, 159 patients with moderate or severe pain were randomly allocated to the four treatments in this single-dose double-blind, stratified, parallel-group study. A research nurse questioned the patients at 1/2 hour and hourly for 6 hours after medicating. A standard format was used to question subjects about their pain intensity and relief from the starting pain. Propiram, 50 mg, produced a level of analgesia approaching that of 650 mg aspirin in peak effect, total effect, and duration of action and was statistically superior to 60 mg codeine and placebo for every measure of analgesic efficacy. Several mild adverse effects were observed; however, they appeared to be evenly distributed among the active treatments.