EVALUATION OF ADDITION OF PARACETAMOL AS ADD ON THERAPY TO LOW DOSE ETORICOXIB FOR ANALGESIA IN ACUTE PAIN: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Objective: To study the influence of paracetamol on analgesia when given separately with low dose etoricoxib for treatment of acute pain in mice. Materials and methods: Animals were divided into 6 groups consisting of six animals in each group. Dose was calculated by using conversion factor for mice from human dose. Group I, II, III and IV received 2% Gum acacia 10ml/kg, paracetamol 84.5mg/kg, etoricoxib 3.9 mg/kg and 7.8 mg/kg respectively. Group V and VI received etoricoxib 3.9 mg/kg + paracetamol 42.25mg/kg and etoricoxib 3.9 mg/kg + Paracetamol 84.50 mg/kg respectively. Group II, V and VI were administered rescue paracetamol at 6 h. Acetic acid induced writhing test and hot plate method were used to evaluate immediate and delayed analgesic activity respectively. Results: After 1 h low dose paracetamol in combination with low dose etoricoxib showed significant (P<0.05) analgesic activity as compared to etoricoxib low and paracetamol high dose when used alone and comparable analgesia as compared to etoricoxib high dose when used alone. High dose paracetamol with low dose etoricoxib showed better analgesic activity as compared to high dose etoricoxib when used alone. Delayed analgesic activity in paracetamol treated group were significant at 7^th h as compared to 6^th h. Conclusion: Addition of paracetamol increases the analgesic efficacy of low dose etoricoxib and is cost effective as compared to high dose etoricoxib when used alone.