EFFICACY OF FLURBIPROFEN IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN: A DOUBLE BLIND PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY

Chronic low back pain is major challenge for all societies because of its increasing incidence, social and medical implications. This condition continues to affect a significant proportion of working population among the young and middle-age adults. Forty patients diagnosed as chronic low-back pain were enrolled in a double blind, randomized trial designed to investigate the clinical efficacy of flurbiprofen. Each group consisted of 20 patients receiving either 100 mg flurbiprofen tablets twice daily (BID) or placebo respectively. Clinical evaluation was realized by the patient on a pain visual analogue scale (VAS), four point verbal rating scale for general (both for patient and physician) well-being, Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale (AIMS) and Beck Depression Scale (BDS) at baseline and on weeks 1 and 4. Adverse events and laboratory assessments were documented. The affect subgroup of AIMS questionnaire and both patient's and physician's verbal rating scale scores showed statistically significant differences in favor of flurbiprofen group on week 4 but no difference on week 1.

This study shows that the use of flurbiprofen in chronic low back pain has no effect on depression scores. But due to its analgesic and symptomatic effect, it may help to restore the functional status of the chronic low back pain patients.