[Treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. Comparative study of ibuprofen and mefenamic acid]

In double-blind studies, mefenamic acid (group A) was compared with ibuprofen (group B) in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea in 60 patients, during two cycles. The initial pain intensity was 8.9 for group A and 8.5 for B. The medication were administered at cero time (when the colic begin) and each 8 hours during the menstrual period. The decrease of pain intensity was presented after the second pill administration in group A for 8.6 + 1.8 at 6.0 + 2.4 in the first cycle and 8.5 +/- 1.8 at 5.9 +/- 2.6 in the second cycle. The group B the decrease of pain was similar of 8.2 +/- 1.7 at 5.1 +/- 2.6 for the first cycle and the 8.2 +/- 1.7 at 4.7 +/- 2.6 in the second cycle of treatment. The number of tablets administered for both groups were for group A 5.5 and for B 4.4. The duration of pain were 22.1 hours for group A and 19.3 for B.