Analgesic effect of isoxepac on postmeniscectomy pain: a controlled trial

The analgesic efficacy of 100 and 200 mg isoxepac was compared with that of 50 mg indomethacin in a double-blind, single-dose, between-patient (parallel) study with placebo control. Oral doses were administered to 120 patients whose postoperative plan justified administration of analgesics on the morning of the day following knee surgery for meniscectomy. No appreciable differences emerged between 100 mg isoxepac and placebo, though 50 mg indomethacin and 200 mg isoxepac gave better analgesia than either 100 mg isoxepac or placebo. Peak and duration of pain relief was of the same order with 50 mg indomethacin, and 200 mg isoxepac would appear to be the minimal effective dose in the clinical setting of postoperative pain following knee meniscectomy. The incidence of side effects on all three active treatments was remarkedly low.