A comparison of the analgesic efficacy of naproxen and propoxyphene in patients with pain after orthopedic surgery

A double-blind parallel randomized study comparing naproxen 600 mg, naproxen 400 mg, and propoxyphene 65 mg was performed in 105 patients suffering from pain after orthopedic surgery. A significant difference in analgesic effectiveness was shown between the three drugs with successful analgesia recorded in 66 % of patients who received naproxen 600 mg, 37 % of those who received naproxen 400 mg, and 20% of those who received propoxyphene 65 mg (X2 2dt= 15.34, p<0.005). Naproxen 600 mg provided successful analgesia more often than did naproxen 400 mg. Complaints were mild but frequent with ail drugs (36 % of patients). No serious side effects were observed