A comparative study of ibuprofen and paracetamol in primary dysmenorrhea.

A investigation designed as a double-blind cross-over trial which lasted 2 months tested the self-assessed efficacy of ibuprofen (an antiinflammatory) by 67 dysmenorrheic patients; paracetamol was the comparative agent. Of the 31 patients who received ibuprofen as their 1st treatment 14 preferred this medication whereas 11 preferred paracetamol; 6 had no preference; 3 thought both agents eqully effective; and 3 felt neither was effective. Of 29 patients receiving paracetamol first 11 preferred it whereas 18 preferred ibuprofen. There was no evidence of an order effect since when combining the 2 groups 25 preferred the 1st agent administered and 28 the 2nd. Overall 32 subjects preferred ibuprofen and 22 paracetamol; this preference was not statistically significant. Side effects including nausea dizziness tiredness headache dysuria and anorexia were experienced by 7 ibuprofen subjects and by 9 while on paracetamol. Relying on a usual severity rating of their primary dysmenorrhea the patients reported slightly worse pain twice no change 24 times slightly better 23 imes better 9 times and much better 6 times while taking ibuprofen; on paracetamol the assessments were 1 21 19 16 and 5 respectively. Again ibuprofen was favored but the difference was not statistically significant. Also measured subjectively were duration of pain relief comparison of duration of pain relief degree of pain relief after taking medication and comparison of degree of pain relief; none was statistically significant.