The analgesic efficacy of naproxen (500 mg / 12 h) and aspirin (600 mg / 4 h) in 28 patients with advanced malignant disease was assessed in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study of two weeks’ duration. Efficacy was assessed using severity of pain (linear analogue self-assessment), pain score (McGill Pain Questionnaire), pain severity, and time of onset of pain relief. Both analgesics provided equal, highly effective relief of pain. It is concluded that naproxen is a useful addition to the analgesics available for patients with advanced malignant disease and has the advantage of 12-h rather than 4-h dosage.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BrogdenRN, HeelRC, SpeightTM, AveryGS. Naproxen up to date: a review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic efficacy and use in rheumatic diseases and pain states. Drugs1979; 18: 241–77.
2.
Editorial. Aspirin and the stomach. Br Med J1981; 282: 91–2.
3.
LevyM.Aspirin use in patients with major upper gastrointestinal bleeding and peptic ulcer disease. N Engl J Med1974; 290: 1158–62.
4.
LussierA, ArsenaultA, VaradyJ.Gastrointestinal micro-bleeding after aspirin and naproxen. Clin Pharmacol Ther1978; 23: 402.
5.
MelzackR.The McGill Pain Questionnaire – major properties and scoring methods. Pain1975; 1: 277–99.
6.
MoertelCG, AhmannDL, TaylorWF, SchwatauN.A comparative evaluation of marketed analgesic drugs. N Engl J Med1972; 286: 813–5.
7.
StetsonJB. The clinical testing of oral analgesics. Anaesthesia1974; 29: 349.
8.
TwycrossRG. The measurement of pain in terminal carcinoma. J Internal Med Res1976; 4 (Suppl 2): 58–67.
