COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF DICLOFENAC AND MELOXICAM AS TABLETS AND AS TRANSMUCOSAL MUCOADHESIVE PATCHES IN DENTAL PAIN REDUCTION

Aims and Objectives: To evaluate and compare diclofenac and meloxicam as tablets and as mucoadhesive patches in the control of odontogenic pain. Materials and Methods: 60 patients of either sex with acute dental pain were included in the study. Informed consent was obtained from each patient and they were randomly divided into 4 groups. Group A1 received meloxicam tablets, A2 meloxicam mucoadhesive patches, B1 diclofenac tablets, and group B2 was allotted diclofenac mucoadhesive patches. A 10 cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to record pain scores at baseline, 20 and 30 min post-administration. Patients were also given the allotted tablets and patches to be used for 2 days, along with a pain diary to record their VAS scores at 30 min post-administration. Diary was collected and data analyzed on the 4^th day. Results: Statistically significant reduction in pain was seen in all 4 groups from baseline to the end of the study period. Overall pain reduction was greater with the mucoadhesive patches than with tablets. Diclofenac patches showed a greater reduction in pain as compared to meloxicam patches (p> 0.05). Diclofenac tablets also showed a statistically significant reduction as compared to meloxicam (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that mucoadhesive patches resulted in a greater reduction in pain as compared to the tablets. Hence, they can be considered as feasible alternatives to conventional methods of drug delivery and can be used in daily practice.