Acetaminophen Provides Pain Relief Equal to Ibuprofen in Treatment of Ankle Sprains

Main Category: Pain / Anesthetics
Article Date: 04 Jun 2005 - 11:00 PDT

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The first study comparing acetaminophen against ibuprofen in alleviating the pain associated with ankle sprains shows that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in TYLENOL® (acetaminophen), offers relief comparable to that provided by over-the-counter doses of ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly used to reduce the pain of sprains.

"Ibuprofen has been a mainstay in treating the pain associated with ankle sprains, but many people either shouldn't take NSAIDs or have become concerned about the safety of NSAIDs in the past year," said James D. Dalton, Jr., M.D., who conducted the study and will present his findings today at the 2005 meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine.1* "This new information shows that extended-release acetaminophen is equally effective at relieving the pain associated with ankle sprains and can help patients resume normal activities as early as four days after injury. This is good news for anyone interested in identifying alternatives to NSAIDs."

Conducted as a multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial, the study followed 260 patients who presented with grade I or II lateral ankle sprains (the most common type of sprain involving either over-stretching or partial tearing of supporting ligaments) and moderate pain when walking. In the study, patients were divided into two groups of comparable size and baseline condition. One group was instructed to take extended-release acetaminophen for nine days (1300 mg three times daily) while the other took ibuprofen for nine days (400 mg three times daily). All patients were instructed to use rest, ice, compression and elevation.

Each study participant was evaluated at days four and nine for pain when walking (the primary measurement of effectiveness) as well as for swelling, bruising, range of motion and any adverse events such as nausea or abdominal pain. At the conclusion of the trial, the acetaminophen and ibuprofen groups showed comparable findings by all endpoint measurements. Both study medications were well tolerated, with no significant differences between treatment groups.

Approximately one million Americans a year visit a doctor and lose time from work and routine activities because of an ankle sprain.1 For athletes, the incidence of ankle sprains is significant, as is the high number of recurrent sprains and the frequency of long-term complications. Ankle sprains are the most common injury in sports, accounting for approximately 45 percent of all injuries in basketball, 31 percent in soccer and 25 percent in volleyball.2,3 Ankle sprains are also common in football, hockey, gymnastics, skating, baseball and wrestling.

About McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals

McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals, division of McNeil-PPC, Inc., markets prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical products. Prescription products include CONCERTA® (methylphenidate HCl) and FLEXERIL® (cyclobenzaprine HCl) 5 mg. The company's OTC products include complete lines of TYLENOL® (acetaminophen) and MOTRIN® IB (ibuprofen) products for adults and children. Other brands include IMODIUM® (loperamide HCI) A-D Anti-Diarrheal, ST. JOSEPH® Adult Regimen Aspirin and NIZORAL® A-D (ketoconazole) Shampoo.

1 Dalton JD, Schweinle JE. Efficacy and Safety of Extended-Release Acetaminophen versus Ibuprofen for Treatment of Ankle Sprains. Presented at the 2005 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

2 Garrick JG. The Frequency of Injury, Mechanism of Injury, and Epidemiology of Ankle Sprains. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, Vol. 5; Nov. 1977, pages 241-242

3 Trojian TH, McKeag DB. Ankle Sprains: Expedient Assessment and Management. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, Vol. 26; No. 10, Oct. 1998; pages 1905-1915.

* The American College of Sports Medicine is an independent, professional, medical and scientific society that does not guarantee, warrant or endorse any commercial product or service.

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