Do ibuprofen doses greater than 400 mg provide more effective analgesia at 60 minutes?

BEEM Bottom Line

Why is this study important?

Ibuprofen doses ranging between 400 mg and 800 mg are commonly prescribed for acute pain control in the emergency department (ED), and equipoise exists regarding the appropriate dose necessary for clinically effective pain control. Some studies suggest that the analgesic ceiling is 400 mg, the dosing threshold beyond which any further increase in dose no longer offers an increase in analgesia.[1] [2] Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are responsible for drug-drug interactions and are linked to adverse gastrointestinal, renal, and cardiovascular effects that increase in risk with dose. Hence, choosing the lowest effective dose of ibuprofen is beneficial.

Which, if any, threats to validity are most likely to have an impact on the results and how?

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