Non-prescription (OTC) oral analgesics for acute pain - an overview of Cochrane reviews
- PMID: 26544675
- PMCID: PMC6485506
- DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010794.pub2
Non-prescription (OTC) oral analgesics for acute pain - an overview of Cochrane reviews
Abstract
Background: Non-prescription (over-the-counter, or OTC) analgesics (painkillers) are used frequently. They are available in various brands, package sizes, formulations, and dose. They can be used for a range of different types of pain, but this overview reports on how well they work for acute pain (pain of short duration, usually with rapid onset). Thirty-nine Cochrane reviews of randomised trials have examined the analgesic efficacy of individual drug interventions in acute postoperative pain.
Objectives: To examine published Cochrane reviews for information about the efficacy of pain medicines available without prescription using data from acute postoperative pain.
Methods: We identified OTC analgesics available in the UK, Australia, Canada, and the USA by examining online pharmacy websites. We also included some analgesics (diclofenac potassium, dexketoprofen, dipyrone) of importance in parts of the world, but not currently available in these jurisdictions.We identified systematic reviews by searching the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) on The Cochrane Library through a simple search strategy. All reviews were overseen by a single review group, had a standard title, and had as their primary outcome numbers of participants with at least 50% pain relief over four to six hours compared with placebo. From individual reviews we extracted the number needed to treat for an additional beneficial outcome (NNT) for this outcome for each drug/dose combination, and also calculated the success rate to achieve at least 50% of maximum pain relief. We also examined the number of participants experiencing any adverse event, and whether the incidence was different from placebo.
Main results: We found information on 21 different OTC analgesic drugs, doses, and formulations, using information from 10 Cochrane reviews, supplemented by information from one non-Cochrane review with additional information on ibuprofen formulations (high quality evidence). The lowest (best) NNT values were for combinations of ibuprofen plus paracetamol, with NNT values below 2. Analgesics with values close to 2 included fast acting formulations of ibuprofen 200 mg and 400 mg, ibuprofen 200 mg plus caffeine 100 mg, and diclofenac potassium 50 mg. Combinations of ibuprofen plus paracetamol had success rates of almost 70%, with dipyrone 500 mg, fast acting ibuprofen formulations 200 mg and 400 mg, ibuprofen 200 mg plus caffeine 100 mg, and diclofenac potassium 50 mg having success rates above 50%. Paracetamol and aspirin at various doses had NNT values of 3 or above, and success rates of 11% to 43%. We found no information on many of the commonly available low dose codeine combinations.The proportion of participants experiencing an adverse event were generally not different from placebo, except for aspirin 1000 mg and (barely) ibuprofen 200 mg plus caffeine 100 mg. For ibuprofen plus paracetamol, adverse event rates were lower than with placebo.
Authors' conclusions: There is a body of reliable evidence about the efficacy of some of the most commonly available drugs and doses widely available without prescription. The postoperative pain model is predominantly pain after third molar extraction, which is used as the industry model for everyday pain. The proportion of people with acute pain who get good pain relief with any of them ranges from around 70% at best to less than 20% at worst; low doses of some drugs in fast acting formulations were among the best. Adverse events were generally no different from placebo. Consumers can make an informed choice based on this knowledge, together with availability and price. Headache and migraine were not included in this overview.
Conflict of interest statement
RAM has no conflicts relating to this review or any similar product.
PJW has no conflicts relating to this review or any similar product.
SD has no conflicts relating to this review or any similar product.
TM has no conflicts relating to this review or any similar product.
YR has no conflicts relating to this review or any similar product.
LT has no conflicts relating to this review or any similar product.
We are funded by the NIHR for work on a series of reviews informing the unmet need of chronic pain and providing the evidence for treatments of pain but this review is not supported by that funding.
This review was identified in a 2019 audit as not meeting the current definition of the Cochrane Commercial Sponsorship policy. At the time of its publication it was compliant with the interpretation of the existing policy. As with all reviews, new and updated, at update this review will be revised according to 2020 policy update.
Figures
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Update of
- doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010794
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Aspirin 2012
Diclofenac 2015
Dipyrone 2010
Ibuprofen + caffeine 2015
Ibuprofen + codeine 2015
Ibuprofen + paracetamol 2013
Ibuprofen 2009
Ketoprofen and dexketoprofen 2009
Naproxen 2009
References to excluded reviews
Aceclofenac 2009
Acemetacin 2009
Celecoxib 2013
Codeine 2010
Dexibuprofen 2009
Diflunisal 2010
Dihydrocodeine 2000
Etodolac 2009
Etoricoxib 2014
Fenbufen 2009
Fenoprofen 2011
Flurbiprofen 2009
Gabapentin 2010
Ibuprofen + oxycodone 2013
Indometacin 2004
Lornoxicam 2009
Lumiracoxib 2010
Mefenamic acid 2011
Meloxicam 2009
Nabumetone 2009
Nefopam 2009
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Piroxicam 2000
Rofecoxib 2009
Sulindac 2009
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