Efficacy of ibuprofen versus lornoxicam after third molar surgery: a randomized, double-blind, crossover pilot study

Purpose The aim of this study is to compare the analgesic efficacy and tolerability of a pre-emptive/post-surgery 4-day regimen of oral ibuprofen 400 mg with that of lornoxicam 8 mg. Methods Sixteen patients received ibuprofen or lornoxicam, respectively, before and after surgery of impacted third molars in two separate appointments, in a double-blind, randomized, and crossover design. The postoperative analgesic and rescue medication consumption was recorded and pain scores were evaluated with a visual analogue scale at 2, 6, 24, 48, and 72 h, postoperatively. Results No statistically significant differences were found between ibuprofen 400 mg and lornoxicam 8 mg with respect to study medication (p=0.34) or rescue analgesic consumption (p=0.5) (SUMstudy and SUMrescue). Ibuprofen: SUMstudy median 7.5 interquartile range IQR (4.25–8), 95% CI (4.6–7.7); SUMrescue median and IQR 0, 95% CI (−0.6–4.6). Lornoxicam: SUMstudy median 7 IQR (3.75–9), 95% CI (7.7–4.9); SUMrescue median and IQR 0, 95% CI (−0.7–2.7). The area under the pain intensity curve (AUC2–72 PI) over the 4 days of investigation did not reveal significant differences between the two medications (p=0.32). AUC2–72 PI ibuprofen: median 1,509.7 IQR (712.36–2,444.65); 95% CI (1,078.7–2,156.5). AUC2–72 PI lornoxicam: median 1,166.9 IQR (783.4–2,221.2), 95% CI (1,032–2,130.6). Moreover, patient satisfaction and incidence of adverse events did not reveal any significant differences between treatment groups. Conclusion Ibuprofen 400 mg and lornoxicam 8 mg were rated as equal and effective pain treatment medication after wisdom tooth surgery. In comparison, neither of the drugs provided clinical advantages nor did side effects occur more frequently after one of the analgesics.