ZOMEPIRAC, DIHYDROCODEINE AND PLACEBO COMPARED IN POSTOPERATIVE PAIN AFTER DAY-CASE SURGERY: The relationship between the effects of single and multiple doses

Zomepirac 100 mg and dihydrocodeine 30 mg were compared withplacebo in a controlled randomized, double-blind, single-dosepostoperative study. Patients continued to receive either zomepiracor dihydrocodeine for pain relief for 5 days at home in a double-blindstudy, being allowed to titrate the consumption of tablets totheir degree of pain. The efficacy and side effects of the medicationwere evaluated. In the singledose phase, both active treatmentswere significantly better than placebo. In the multiple dosingphase, zomepirac was statistically better than dihydrocodeine.Non-parametric statistical tests indicated highly significantcorrelations between single- and multiple-dose analgesic measurementsfor both zomepirac and dihydrocodeine. Present address Charing Cross Hospital, London.