The efficacy of acetaminophen-caffeine for the treatment of posto perative pain after periodontal surgery

Abstract EN

Previous studies have shown that NSAIDs have significant benefits in the control of postoperative pain after periodontal surgeries.

Acetaminophen (centrally acting NSAID) is believed to provide less analgesic efficacy than ibuprofen (centrally and peripherally acting NSAID).

This study aimed for comparing an alternative combination of 500 mg acetaminophen with 30 mg caffeine to 400 mg ibuprofen in pain management following periodontal surgeries.

A randomized double masked cross-over clinical trial was conducted on 30 patients.

Open flap debridement was performed on two quadrants with 3 weeks interval in between.

Each quadrant was randomly assigned for either 500 mg acetaminophen with 30 mg caffeine or 400 mg ibuprofen immediately after surgery and 8 hours after the first dose.

Postoperative pain was assessed during the first 8 hours and on the following day using the 101-point numerical rate scale (NRS-101).There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05).The results of the present study suggest that 500 mg acetaminophen with 30 mg caffeine can be used efficiently in controlling postoperative pain following open flap debridement especially in patients suffering from gastric ulcers or bleeding tendency since acetaminophen is less hazardous than ibuprofen.