The relief of primary dysmenorrhea by ketoprofen and indomethacin

Antti Kauppila, Jukka Puolakka, Olavi Ylikorkala
In: Prostaglandins · 1979 · vol. 18(4) , pp. 647–653 · doi:10.1016/0090-6980(79)90032-7 · PMID:531231 · W2008841224
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This study investigated the efficacy of ketoprofen and indomethacin in relieving primary dysmenorrhea.

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Abstract

The prostaglandin biosynthesis inhibitors ketoprofen and indomethacin were compared in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea in a double-blind, cross-over trial involving 23 patients. Each drug was used for 2-4 days during 3 consecutive menstruations in randomized order. Good or moderate overall relief was obtained in 60 of the 68 ketoprofen-treated menstruations (88%). A dysmenorrhea score, based on subjective estimations of 8 symptoms, similarly decreased from a mean (+/- S.E.M.) basal level of 9.6 +/- 0.6 to 3.6 +/- 0.3 during ketoprofen treatment and to 4.0 +/- 0.3 during indomethacin. Both drugs relieved pelvic and lower back pains and eliminated vomiting and diarrhea in 82-97% of the cycles whereas headache, fatigue and nervousness were less frequently alleviated (40-67%). Eighteen of the 23 women (78%) had been unable to work during the first day of menstruation, the rate of working days lost was reduced to 4% with ketoprofen and 9 with indomethacin. Mild side-effects occurred during 12 ketoprofen and 14 indomethacin therapies. Ketoprofen thus seems to be as effective and tolerable as indomethacin in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.

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dysmenorrhea

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