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British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology logoLink to British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
. 1996 Jun;41(6):581–585. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2125.1996.34015.x

The efficacy of ketoprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen) in postoperative pain after third molar surgery

R A SEYMOUR 1, P J KELLY 2, J E HAWKESFORD 3
PMCID: PMC2042618  PMID: 8799525

Abstract

1A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of single doses of racemic ketoprofen 12.5 and 25 mg and paracetamol 500 and 1000 mg in patients with post-operative pain after third molar surgery over a 6 h investigation period.

2Outcome variables included overall pain scores (AUC(0,360 min), maximum pain relief, pain relief at 1 h after dosage and the number of patients taking escape analgesics.

3Overall pain scores (AUC(0,360 min) were significantly lower for all active treatments when compared to placebo (P<0.01).

4Both ketoprofen treatments and patients treated with paracetamol 1000 mg reported significantly greater pain relief (P<0.01) and a later time to taking escape analgesics (P<0.01) than patients medicated with placebo.

5At 1 h after dosage, pain scores were significantly less (P<0.01) after both doses of ketoprofen when compared with placebo.

6Single doses of ketoprofen 12.5 and 25 mg, together with paracetamol 1000 mg are effective analgesics for treating post-operative pain after third molar surgery. These treatments provide up to 4 h of pain relief after this surgical procedure.

Keywords: ketoprofen, paracetamol, third molar surgery, postoperative pain

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