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Comparison of Oral Ibuprofen at Three Single-dose Regimens for Treating Acute Pain in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Ibuprofen is one of the most commonly used medications in the ED for the acute treatment of pain. Analgesic ceiling doses are not well supported. Some adverse effects of NSAIDs are dose dependent (GI and cardiovascular).
A recent study looked to compare the analgesic effect of oral ibuprofen at 3 different doses
Population: Adult ED patients (aged 18 and older) with acute pain.
Methods: Randomized double-blind trial.
Goal: To examine the efficacy of ibuprofen at 400, 600 and 800mg.
Only 225 patients enrolled (75 per group). Outcome was difference in pain scores at 60 minutes.
Results: Difference in mean pain scores at 60 minutes between 400 and 600mg (0.14), 400 and 800mg (0.14) and 600 and 800mg (0.00).
Conclusion: Reduction in pain scores was similar between all 3 dosing groups. Consider lower dosing of ibuprofen in ED patients presenting with acute pain.
This analgesic ceiling dose is lower than recommended by the FDA and most EM textbooks.
Consider using the 400mg ibuprofen dose for ED patients with acute pain
References
Motov et al., 2019. Comparison of Oral Ibuprofen at Three Single-dose Regimens for Treating Acute Pain in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Annals of Emergency Medicine. Oct 2019.