Dextromethorphan premedication reduced postoperative analgesic consumption in patients after oral surgery.

OBJECTIVE: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist premedication reduces postoperative pain. In this study, we examined if NMDA antagonist premedication might reduce postoperative pain after oral surgery, testing dextromethorphen. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred eleven patients undergoing mandibular third molar extraction under local anesthesia were included. Patients were randomly allocated into 3 groups. Group A (n = 37), B (n = 38), and C (n = 36) patients were emphasis-placed on dextromethorphan 30 mg, diclofenac 25 mg, or placebo orally before surgery, respectively. Postoperatively, patients were allowed to use oral diclofenac, 25 mg, for postoperative pain relief. Postoperative pain was evaluated the 1st, 7th, and 14th day after surgery, respectively, by using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the number of diclofenac consumed. VAS score and the number of diclofenac consumption were compared among the groups. RESULTS: VAS score was similar among the 3 groups during the study period. Total postoperative diclofenac consumption was significantly less in group A than in group C (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dextromethorphan premedication reduced postoperative analgesic consumption after oral surgery.