Analgesia following oral surgery for day patients: a clincial comparison of two analgesics

A single-blind, between-patient study was carried out in 167 patients following oral surgery to compare the effectiveness and tolerance of two combination analgesic preparations; pentazocine (15 mg) plus paracetamol (500 mg) and dextropropoxyphene hydrochloride (32.5 mg) plus paracetamol (325 mg). Assessments of pain and pain relief were made over two periods, initially over the 90 minute period following administration of either preparation and secondly, over the subsequent 3 days following discharge. At the hospital, those patients receiving pentazocine plus paracetamol achieved a greater relief of pain than those receiving dextropropoxyphene plus paracetamol, though the differences did not reach statistical significance. At home, pain relief was very similar for both groups of patients, both preparations being effective and well tolerated.