salicylates and Dysmenorrhea

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) provide potent analgesic, anti-inflammatory activity as a result of their inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. They are highly bound to plasma proteins and have half-lives that vary from two hours to more than 24 hours. While gastrointestinal reactions are well known, the renal and hepatic toxicities of NSAIDs have only recently been characterized. Elderly patients in general may be at risk of toxicity and should be evaluated frequently.

Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Dysmenorrhea; Female; Humans; Joint Diseases; Kinetics; Pain; Salicylates

A randomized double-blind cross-over study was carried out in 19 young female undergraduates with severe primary dysmenorrhea to compare the efficacy and tolerance of treatment with diflunisal and naproxen. All patients received both substances twice during four consecutive cycles. The first tablet was taken at the onset of dysmenorrheic symptoms and continued according to the individual need, maximally four tablets daily. The overall relieving effect was good or moderate in 73.7% of the diflunisal cycles and in 92.1% of the naproxen cycles. The difference was not statistically significant. One third of the women estimated decreased menstrual blood loss during treatment with both the drugs. Side effects were mild and did not cause discontinuation of the therapy. Diflunisal seems to be as equally effective in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea as naproxen, which is a well-documented and widely used prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor.

Topics: Adult; Clinical Trials as Topic; Diflunisal; Double-Blind Method; Dysmenorrhea; Female; Humans; Naproxen; Salicylates

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Clinical Trials as Topic; Double-Blind Method; Dysmenorrhea; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Salicylates

In eight nulliparous women with severe primary dysmenorrhoea, intrauterine pressure was recorded on the first day of menstruation before and after administration of diflunisal 1000 mg. Uterine activity was significantly decreased in all patients but abolished in none. Seven women experienced almost complete relief of pain. To four of the patients, including the one who did not become pain-free after diflunisal, nifedipine 30 mg was also given. Uterine activity was abolished in all, but the patient not responding to diflunisal had persistent pains. It is suggested that diflunisal may be used for treatment of pain in primary dysmenorrhoea. Addition of nifedipine can produce a further decrease in uterine activity, but whether combined therapy may offer therapeutic advantages remains to be established.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Diflunisal; Drug Interactions; Dysmenorrhea; Female; Humans; Nifedipine; Palliative Care; Pyridines; Salicylates; Uterine Contraction

Topics: Dysmenorrhea; Fabaceae; Female; Glycine; Humans; Salicylates