Analgesic efficacy of prophylactic gabapentin and lornoxicam in preventing postendodontic pain.

OBJECTIVE In dental applications, as in all other medical applications, pain needs to be prevented or at least controlled. The use of the tooth as a model for studying pain mechanisms is well established. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate and compare the analgesic effects of gabapentin and lornoxicam, respectively, vs a placebo for postendodontic treatment pain. DESIGN AND METHODS Clinical research was planned as prospective, randomized, and placebo controlled. Each subject was given 600 mg gabapentin (group G: N = 30), 8 mg lornoxicam (group L: N = 30), or a placebo (group C: N = 30) 30 min prior to endodontic treatment. OUTCOME MEASURES At 4 (T(3)), 8 (T(4)), 12 (T(5)), and 24 (T(6)) h after preoperative (T(0)) time points, the analgesic efficacies of the agents were evaluated by using the visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS In group G, VAS values were significantly greater at T(0) time point than at T(5) or T(6). T(0) time point VAS value in group L was lower than at T4 time point and greater than at T(6). In group C, T(0) time point VAS values were significantly lower at T(3) and T(5) time points and greater than at T(6) time point. VAS values in group G at T(5) time point were significantly lower than in group C or group L (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Based on the obtained data, prophylactic lornoxicam controlled postendodontic treatment pain more effectively than did the placebo drugs, and gabapentin was more effective in controlling the pain than either lornoxicam or the placebo.