The effect of tramadol on dento-alveolar surgical pain.

The aim of the study was to assess the analgesic effect of tramadol in the relief of pain after dentoalveolar operations that involve the removal of bone and suturing. Four-hundred and fifty-two patients over the age of 18 years who were to undergo removal of impacted teeth (n = 362), removal of root (n = 79), or alveolectomy, enucleation of cysts, or removal of soft tissue (n = 11) under local anesthesia were studied. Patients were randomly allocated to receive tramadol 100 mg or 50 mg four times daily, or 50 mg twice daily, or placebo. Median pain scores on the day of operation in the three tramadol groups were similar (2 in each group, ranges 1-5, 1-4.8, and 1-5 respectively) and were all significantly lower than that in the placebo group (2.3 range 1-4.2). The median number of Paracetamol tablets taken by patients in the three tramadol groups was 2 (ranges 0-8, 0-12 and 0-8 respectively), and were all significantly less than in the placebo group (4, range 0-12). More patients given tramadol reported complete pain relief than the placebo group. The advantages of tramadol continued over the next 2 days. There were no serious or unexpected adverse effects. It is concluded that tramadol is an effective analgesic after dentoalveolar operations.

Clinical experience with ethynodiol diacetate 0.5 mg daily as an oral contraceptive.

Femulen, a progestogen only oral contraceptive (ethynodiol diacetate 0.5mg), was evaluated for its contraceptive efficacy and safety in 425 women aged between 16 and 47 years. This was a multicentre open study carried out in General Practice and Family Planning clinics. Five pregnancies were reported, three of which were a result of patient failure. The net pregnancy rate at one year for method failure was 0.5%. No ectopic pregnancy was reported. The median length of the menstrual period was between four and five days and the average length of the non-bleeding interval remained between 24 and 25 days throughout the study. Blood pressure on the whole remained within normal limits. However, there was a small decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure which did not reach significant levels. Body weight was unaltered and no abnormality was found in cervical smears. Femulen was shown to be an effective and acceptable contraceptive in women of varying ages.

PIP: Femulen, a progestogen only oral contraceptive (ethynodiol diacetate 0.5mg), was evaluated for its contraceptive efficacy and safety in 425 women aged between 16 and 47 years. This was a multicenter open study carried out in General Practice and Family Planning clinics. 5 pregnancies were reported, 3 of which were a result of patient failure. The net pregnancy rate at 1 year for method failure was 0.5%. No ectopic pregnancy was reported. The median length of the menstrual period was between 4 and 5 days and the average length of the non-bleeding interval remained between 24 and 25 days throughout the study. Blood pressure on the whole remained within normal limits. However, there was a small increase in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure which did not reach significant levels. Body weight was unaltered and no abnormality was found in cervical smears. Femulen was shown to be an effective and acceptable contraceptive in women of varying ages.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of spironolactone in the premenstrual syndrome.

The effect of spironolactone in the alleviation of the symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome was compared with placebo in a double-blind, parallel group controlled study. One tablet daily of 100 mg spironolactone or placebo was given to 63 women from Day 12 of the menstrual cycle until the first day of the next menstrual bleed. This regimen was repeated for two consecutive cycles. Spironolactone was statistically significantly superior in providing relief from bloatedness (p less than 0.001). No statistically significant changes were observed in blood biochemistry of plasma hormone levels of oestradiol, progesterone or prolactin, though an increase in serum aldosterone levels was seen in the spironolactone-treated group. No differences were detected in weight, blood pressure or the incidence and severity of complaints following treatment.