Diclofenac sodium in renal and ureteral colic: a double-blind comparison with hyoscine N-butyl bromide

The analgesic effects of diclofenac sodium 75 mg 1M and hyoscinc N-butyl bromide 20 or 40 mg IM or IV were compared, in a randomized double-blind study, in 422 patients reporting moderate to severe pain due to renal or ureteral colic. Patients evaluated their pain intensity and pain relief at 0 (baseline), 15, 30, 45 minutes and hourly for 3 hours. A significant difference (p<0.05) was found between the two groups with respect to pain intensity difference (PID), mean pain relief and onset time of analgesia. Diclofenac sodium was significantly (p<0.05) superior to hyoscine N-butyl bromide in pain relief. Significantly (p<0.05) fewer patients required a second dose in diclofenac sodium-treated group compared to the other spasmolytic group. The dose and the route of administration of hyoscine N-butyl bromide had no significant (p>0.05) effect on the proportion of patients with complete relief. These results confirmed that diclofenac sodium can be safely used in the management of acute renal and ureteral colic as an alternative to hyoscine N-butyl bromide