Celecoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drug (selective
cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor) that is widely used. The efficacy and safety of
celecoxib for treatment of
acute postoperative pain were evaluated in Japanese patients. The objective was to assess whether
celecoxib showed superiority over placebo treatment and non-inferiority versus
etodolac (another selective
cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor) that has been widely used for the management of
acute pain. A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, controlled study was performed, in which 616 patients with
postoperative pain received
celecoxib,
etodolac, or placebo. Their impressions of study
drug efficacy (overall assessment) and
pain intensity were evaluated. Based on each patient's overall assessment of
pain, the efficacy rate was 63.7% in the placebo group, 76.2% in the
celecoxib group, and 68.0% in the
etodolac group, with these results demonstrating superiority of
celecoxib to placebo and noninferiority versus
etodolac. The efficacy rate was significantly higher in the
celecoxib group than in the
etodolac group. There were no adverse events specific to
celecoxib, and the safety of
celecoxib was similar to that of placebo.
Celecoxib was superior to
etodolac for controlling
acute postoperative pain.