[Analgesic effects of pirprofen in cancer pain]

The analgesic effects of single oral doses of pirprofen (200 and 400 mg), pentazocin (100 mg) and a placebo were compared in a multicentre, double-blind clinical trial involving 168 hospital patients with malignant diseases. Pentazocin 100 mg was as active as, and pirprofen 200 mg more active than the placebo (p less than 0.05). A dose-activity ratio could clearly be demonstrated with pirprofen, showing that the 400 mg dose was more effective than the 200 mg dose (p less than 0.05). The analgesic effect of pirprofen appeared after 30 minutes and was maximum at one or two hours. Owing to the numerous drugs administered to these cancer patients, the side effects of pirprofen could not be evaluated.