A crossover comparison of bromfenac sodium, naproxen sodium, and placebo for relief of pain from primary dysmenorrhea.

Single and multiple oral doses of bromfenac sodium (10 or 50 mg) were compared with naproxen sodium (550 mg loading/275 mg repeat doses) for the relief of pain from primary dysmenorrhea in 54 women using a crossover design. Pain intensity and pain relief were assessed over 6 h after the first dose, and global ratings were made at the end of day 1 and on day 2. A single dose of bromfenac 10 or 50 mg was as effective as the loading dose of naproxen sodium (550 mg) in relieving the pain from dysmenorrhea through a 6-h period. All three active treatments were statistically superior (p < 0.001) to placebo for the primary efficacy variables, 3-h and 6-h total pain relief and 3-h and 6-h summed pain intensity difference. All active treatments were statistically superior (p < 0.05) to placebo for the first dose and day 1 global assessments. One or more adverse study events were reported by 13 patients (25%) who received bromfenac 50 mg, 15 (29%) who received bromfenac 10 mg, 20 (38%) who received naproxen sodium, and 19 (37%) who received placebo. There were no clinically significant differences among the treatments in the types of adverse study events. No serious or unexpected adverse study events were reported, and no women withdrew from the study because of an adverse event. Bromfenac sodium (10 mg or 50 mg) is as effective as naproxen sodium (550 mg loading dose/275 mg repeat doses) for relief of pain from dysmenorrhea.