Vioxx Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Vioxx, including details on osteoarthritis, side-effects, trials, stroke, heart attack.

Analgesic efficacy of rofecoxib compared with codeine/acetaminophen using a model of acute dental pain.

Chang DJ, Bird SR, Bohidar NR, King T

Clinical Development, Merck & Co, Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To determine analgesic efficacy of a single oral dose of rofecoxib 50 mg compared with acetaminophen/codeine 600/60 mg, we conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo- and active-comparator-controlled, parallel-group study. STUDY DESIGN: Patients (N = 390) experiencing moderate or severe pain postextraction of 2 or more third molars, with at least 1 mandibular impaction, were randomized to placebo (n = 30), rofecoxib (n = 180), or codeine/acetaminophen 60/600 mg (n = 180). Time to confirmed perceptible pain relief, and patient evaluations of pain intensity, pain relief, and global assessments were recorded. RESULTS: For total pain relief over 6 hours (primary end point), rofecoxib was superior to codeine/acetaminophen (15.5 vs 10.7; P < .001). Rofecoxib was statistically significantly superior to codeine/acetaminophen with respect to TOPAR4, patient global assessment, peak pain relief, and duration of analgesic effect. Median onset of analgesia was similar for both drugs. The codeine/acetaminophen group had more patients with 1 or more adverse events. CONCLUSION: Rofecoxib provided superior analgesic efficacy compared with codeine/acetaminophen with fewer gastrointestinal and nervous system adverse events.

Published 26 September 2005 in Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod, 100(4): e74-80.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Vioxx Research Today. All Rights Reserved.