DICLOFENAC IN THE TREATMENT OF PRIMARY DYSMENORRHOEA

Diclofenac-Na (Voltaren Voltarol) in a dose of 50-150 mg was compared to placebo in a double-blind study of 2 parallel groups of patients each group indluding 15 women with primary dysmenorrhea. Each patient was treated over a period of 3 menstrual cycles. A better analgesic effect was demonstrated in the group treated with diclofenac-Na compared with the control group (p<0.002). The consumption of additional rescue analgesics was statistically significantly lower in the active treatment group as compared with that in the placebo group (P<0.002). The patients treated with diclofenac-Na experienced a decrease in the amount of bleeding (P<0.05). No change in bleeding was reported in the control group. The difference between the groups is statistically significant (P=0.02). The number of patients willing to continue treatment with the drug was greater in the group treated with diclofenac-Na (P<0.005). No patient discontinued treatment because of side effects experienced and there was no difference in the frequency of side effects between groups. (authors)