The review examined data from 1,968 patients enrolled in studies that compared the effectiveness of acetaminophen versus placebo to decrease pain after surgical extraction of the third molars, or lower wisdom teeth. The review included patients who received local anesthesia, intravenous sedation or general anesthesia; however, it excluded patients who took pain relievers at the time of surgery.

All patients reported moderate to severe pain just after surgery. Researchers tallied the number of patients who reported 50 percent pain relief at four and six hours after surgery.

Patients who received any dose of acetaminophen after surgery were at least three times more likely to report 50 percent pain relief than patients who took a placebo. However, patients given the higher dose of 1,000 milligrams were four to five times more likely to report that their pain was cut in half. Study participants who took less than 1,000 milligrams were about twice as likely to report 50 percent pain relief.

Patients treated with acetaminophen reported a similar number of side effects as patients who received a placebo. However, researchers monitored patients taking acetaminophen, and Weil cautions that side effects are less likely to occur under controlled circumstances.

The maximum recommended dose of acetaminophen is 4,000 milligrams per day for adults.

Acetaminophen can cause liver toxicity when an individual exceeds the maximum daily dose. Heavy drinkers, malnourished patients and people with AIDS or anorexia nervosa also have an increased risk for liver toxicity.

While the review shows acetaminophen is effective for pain relief, oral surgeon Morton Rosenberg said many dentists prescribe analgesics plus narcotic pain relievers after surgical removal of wisdom teeth.

"This is a procedure where the dentist is working on bone and cutting oral tissue. These are some of the strongest stimuli for pain that we know of," said Rosenberg, professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston.

Read the original article at Medical News Today.

Comments (2) >>

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ouch! said:

So the researches found 1,900+ people willing to get their wisdom teeth removed while understanding that they might only be given a placebo for the pain? How the heck much did they get paid?!?

April 08, 2008

Vu Le, DDS said:

This was a literature review that looked over dozens of smaller studies. Collectively, they had 1,900 patients. Medical trials all divulge that you may receive placebo up front. Almost all have a protocol for patients who start having intolerable pain or sickness, regardless of placebo or not. Usually, the patients are excused from the study, and they are given known remedies to get them better. Some clinical trials pay their patients, others simply offer the care at no charge.

April 08, 2008

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