The British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery
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Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg · Apr 1993
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialA multiple dose comparison of ibuprofen and dihydrocodeine after third molar surgery.
The objectives were to compare the relative merits of ibuprofen 400 mg and dihydrocodeine 30 mg or 60 mg taken up to four times daily for up to 6 days in the treatment of pain after third molar removal. A randomised, double-blind, multiple dose, crossover study was undertaken in 68 patients undergoing two-stage bilateral lower third molar removal. The results showed that ibuprofen produced significantly greater analgesia than either of the dihydrocodeine treatments on the day of surgery. ⋯ Dihydrocodeine 60 mg produced four times the number of patients affected by adverse effects compared with ibuprofen, and dihydrocodeine 30 mg three times as many. The principal adverse effects were nausea, vomiting and drowsiness. In conclusion, ibuprofen produced better analgesia than dihydrocodeine with significantly fewer adverse effects and is therefore a better choice for pain relief after oral surgery.