Efficacy and Tolerability of Nonprescription Ibuprofen versus Celecoxib for Dental Pain

Many clinicians appear confused about the purported clinical advantages of the new generation COX‐2 inhibitors compared to both over‐the‐counter and prescription nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory analgesic agents (NSAIDs). In fact, there is a paucity of published information comparing the safety and efficacy of these two classes of drugs when used to treat acute pain. This study was designed to compare the safety and analgesic efficacy of an over‐the‐counter (OTC) analgesic, ibuprofen (Advil Liqui‐Gels®), to the leading prescription COX‐2 inhibitor celecoxib (Celebrex®). Ibuprofen liquigel is an encapsulated, solubilized potassium salt of ibuprofen that has a higher Cmax and shorter tmax than traditional ibuprofen solid‐dosage formulations. This trial evaluated the maximum approved OTC dosing regimen (400 mg × 3, q4‐6h) of ibuprofen liquigels compared to a single dose of celecoxib (200 mg) and placebo in 174 patients with moderate or severe pain following surgical extraction of impacted third molars. The study design was multiple dose, randomized (stratified by baseline pain and gender), placebo controlled, double blind, double dummy, and parallel group. The onset of pain relief was determined using a two‐stopwatch procedure. Treatments were also compared using standard indices of pain intensity and pain relief. The study demonstrated assay sensitivity in that both active medications were significantly more effective than placebo for all efficacy measures. In comparing the two active medications, the time to meaningful relief was significantly shorter, and the mean 4‐, 8‐, and 12‐ hour summed pain relief combined with pain intensity difference scores were significantly higher for ibuprofen liquigels compared with celecoxib (p < 0.001). Analyses of other key efficacy variables, including the time to rescue medication and the patients' overall assessment of study medication, confirmed the superior efficacy of ibuprofen liquigels over celecoxib. Both active treatments were well tolerated, with no differences in incidence or severity of adverse events. Of particular interest, there were no differences in gastrointestinal‐related side effects when comparing these doses of ibuprofen liquigels to celecoxib. In conclusion, ibuprofen liquigels were a significantly more effective analgesic and provided relief significantly faster compared with celecoxib in the treatment of postsurgical pain.