Double-blind evaluation of intravenous indomethacin and oxycone-papaverine in the treatment of acute biliary pain.

In a prospective double-blind study, 51 patients with acute biliary pain were treated with intravenously administered indomethacin 50 mg (Confortid) or oxycone-papaverine 5+50 mg. The intensity of pain was evaluated before and 20 min after each injection according to an analog visual scale. Both drugs gave comparable and significant pain relief. A second injection was required by 7 of the 23 patients initially given indomethacin and by 12 of the 28 after oxycone-papaverine. The second injection, which was given with a cross-over procedure, contributed to additional pain relief. Side effects were transient in both groups, with a tendency to be milder in the indomethacin group. From the etiologic viewpoint, use of a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor is appropriate, and the results indicate that indomethacin can be recommended as the drug of choice in patients with acute biliary pain.