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Efficacy and Safety of Ibuprofen and Caffeine in Dental Pain

A Single-centre, Double-blind, Randomised, Two-stage, Parallel-group Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of the Fixed Dose Combination of Ibuprofen 400 mg and Caffeine 100 mg Versus Ibuprofen 400 mg, Caffeine 100 mg and Placebo in Patients With Postoperative Dental Pain

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01929031
Enrollment
562
Registered
2013-08-27
Start date
2013-08-31
Completion date
2014-03-31
Last updated
2016-11-16

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Pain, Postoperative, Tooth Diseases

Brief summary

The primary objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of a combination product containing ibuprofen 400 mg and caffeine 100 mg versus either ingredient alone as well as placebo for the treatment of post-surgical dental pain over an eight-hour period followed by a single dose of study medication (study stage 1). A secondary objective is to evaluate efficacy of multiple doses of the combination in comparison to ibuprofen alone over a 5-day post-surgical period (study stage 2).

Interventions

FDC tablet

DRUGibuprofen

tablet.

DRUGcaffeine

tablet

DRUGplacebo

tablet

Sponsors

Boehringer Ingelheim
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 55 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Males and females 18 to 55 years of age; * Outpatients scheduled to undergo surgical extraction of 3-4 impacted third molar(s), with a minimum of two mandibular extractions. The two mandibular third molars may be partial bony impactions or full bony impactions (as long as the trauma rating is not severe and the surgeons do not feel the subject will have extreme post-surgical pain) OR there may be a combination of one full bony impaction with the second mandibular being a soft tissue impaction or partial bony impaction. Maxillary third molars (or supernumerary teeth) of any type can be extracted; * Use of only the following preoperative medication(s)/ anesthetic(s): topical benzocaine, short-acting local anesthetic (mepivacaine or lidocaine) with or without vasoconstrictor and/or nitrous oxide; * Reliable, cooperative, and of adequate intelligence to record the requested information on the analgesic questionnaire form; * Examined by the attending oral surgeon or physician and medically cleared to participate in the study; * Scheduled to undergo a qualifying surgical procedure; * In good general health, with a BMI of 30 or less, and have no contraindications to any of the study medications or anesthetic drugs; * Subjects have at least a categorical pain score of moderate and a numerical rating scale (NRS) score of 5 or greater within 4.5 hours from the time of the last suture.

Exclusion criteria

* Presence of a serious medical condition (e.g., poorly controlled hypertension, poorly controlled diabetes, significantly impaired cardiac, renal or hepatic function, hyper- or hypothyroidism); * Use of a prescription or non-prescription drug with which the administration of ibuprofen or any other non steroidal anti inflammatory or caffeine is contraindicated; * Acute local infection at the time of surgery that could confound the post-surgical evaluation; * Females who are pregnant, lactating, of child-bearing potential, or post-menopausal for less than 2 years and not using a medically approved method of contraception (i.e., oral, transdermal, intravaginal or implanted contraceptives, intrauterine device, diaphragm, condom, abstinence, or surgical sterility), or females who test positive on a urine-based pregnancy test; * Presence or history (within 2 years of enrollment) of bleeding disorder(s) or peptic ulcer disease; * History of alcoholism or substance abuse within the last year, or is currently abusing alcohol or other mood-altering drugs (e.g., cannabis). Subjects who are taking central nervous system or other psychotropic drugs (including St. Johns Wort, or any other nutritional supplement known to have psychotropic effects) may be enrolled if they have been on stable doses of medication for at least 2 months, will maintain this dose throughout the study, and their condition is judged by the Principal Investigator to be well-controlled; * Habituation to analgesic drugs or caffeine (i.e., routine use of oral analgesics 5 or more times per week or ingestion of 4 or more caffeine-containing drinks daily); use of high energy drinks more than once per week; * Use of any type of systemic corticosteroid within the past 30 days or a history of current or previous use of anabolic steroids; * History of allergic reaction (e.g., asthma, rhinitis, swelling, shock, or hives) to acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, celecoxib, or any other non steroidal anti inflammatory or caffeine; * Prior use of any type of analgesic or non steroidal anti inflammatory within 5 half-lives of that drug before surgery, except for pre-anesthetic medication and anesthesia for the procedure; * Ingestion of any caffeine-containing beverages, chocolate, or alcohol 6 hours or less before surgery; * Has impaired liver function, e.g., serum Alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, or Gamma-glutamyltransferase greater than 2.5 times the upper limit of normal, or blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, or bilirubin greater than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal without a known benign explanation; * Has known history of a positive HIV antibody test or known HIV infection; * Has a known history of Hepatitis B or C; * Has a clinically significant abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) at screening as determined by the Investigator: * Has taken an investigational product within the past 30 days; * Has previously been entered into this study; * The subject is a member of the study site staff either directly involved with the study, an employee of the Sponsor, or a relative of study site personnel directly involved with the study or Sponsor.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Time-weighted Sum of Pain Relief (PAR) and Pain Intensity Difference (PID) From 0 to 8 Hours (SPRID0-8h)0 to 8 hoursSPRID0-8h: Time-weighted sum of PAR and PID from 0 to 8 hours, score range: -40 (worst) to 112 (best). PI was assessed on a 0-10 numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), where 0=no pain and 10=worst possible pain, pre-dose and at 0.25,0.5,0.75,1,1.5,2,3,4,5, 6,7 and 8 hours; PAR was assessed on a 5-point verbal rating scale (VRS) (0=none to 4=complete) at the same post-dose time points. Time-weights were equal to the elapsed time (hour) between the time point of interest and the preceding time point. All PAR and pain intensity (PI) assessments completed after the patient had taken rescue medication or the second dose of study medication, whichever was first, until hour 8 were considered missing. Last observation carried forward (LOCF) was used with the last completed PI/PAR assessments prior to first rescue/second study medication, whichever was first, to impute missing values up to 8 hours.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Time-weighted Sum of Pain Relief (PAR) and Pain Intensity Difference (PID) From 0 to 2 Hours (SPRID0-2h)0 to 2 hoursSPRID0-2h: Time-weighted sum of PAR and PID from 0 to 2 hours, score range: -10 (worst) to 28 (best). PI was assessed on a 0-10 numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), where 0=no pain and 10=worst possible pain, pre-dose and at 0.25,0.5,0.75,1,1.5 and 2 hours; PAR was assessed on a 5-point verbal rating scale (VRS) (0=none to 4=complete) at the same post-dose time points. Time-weights were equal to the elapsed time (hour) between the time point of interest and the preceding time point. All PAR and pain intensity (PI) assessments completed after the patient had taken rescue medication or the second dose of study medication, whichever was first, until hour 2 was considered missing. Last observation carried forward (LOCF) was used with the last completed PI/PAR assessments prior to first rescue/second study medication, whichever was first, to impute missing values up to 2 hours.
Duration of Pain Relief8 hoursDuration of pain relief was defined as the time between the administration of first dose of trial medication and first dose of rescue medication or second dose of trial medication, whichever was first. Duration of pain relief was censored at 8 hours.
Time to Meaningful Pain Relief8 hoursTime to meaningful pain relief was captured by a stopwatch, which was started by the study staff immediately after the administration of the first dose of trial medication and which was to be stopped by the patient as soon as he/she felt meaningful pain relief. Time to meaningful pain relief was censored at 8 hours.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Placebo Stage 1
One Placebo tablet after dental surgery
70
Caffeine Stage 1
One Caffeine 100mg tablet after dental surgery
70
Ibuprofen Stage 1
One Ibuprofen 400mg tablet after dental surgery
209
Ibuprofen/Caffeine Stage 1
One Ibuprofen 400mg/Caffeine 100mg tablet after dental surgery
213
Total562

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001FG002FG003FG004FG005
Overall StudyAdverse Event311000
Overall StudyProtocol Violation100001
Overall StudyReason other than specified above010010

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicPlacebo Stage 1Caffeine Stage 1Ibuprofen Stage 1Ibuprofen/Caffeine Stage 1Total
Age, Continuous19.3 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.77
19.2 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.72
19.6 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.96
19.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.06
19.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.95
Region of Enrollment
United States
70 participants70 participants209 participants213 participants562 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
46 Participants39 Participants142 Participants131 Participants358 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
24 Participants31 Participants67 Participants82 Participants204 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
EG003
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
3 / 701 / 709 / 27923 / 282
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 700 / 701 / 2790 / 282

Outcome results

Primary

Time-weighted Sum of Pain Relief (PAR) and Pain Intensity Difference (PID) From 0 to 8 Hours (SPRID0-8h)

SPRID0-8h: Time-weighted sum of PAR and PID from 0 to 8 hours, score range: -40 (worst) to 112 (best). PI was assessed on a 0-10 numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), where 0=no pain and 10=worst possible pain, pre-dose and at 0.25,0.5,0.75,1,1.5,2,3,4,5, 6,7 and 8 hours; PAR was assessed on a 5-point verbal rating scale (VRS) (0=none to 4=complete) at the same post-dose time points. Time-weights were equal to the elapsed time (hour) between the time point of interest and the preceding time point. All PAR and pain intensity (PI) assessments completed after the patient had taken rescue medication or the second dose of study medication, whichever was first, until hour 8 were considered missing. Last observation carried forward (LOCF) was used with the last completed PI/PAR assessments prior to first rescue/second study medication, whichever was first, to impute missing values up to 8 hours.

Time frame: 0 to 8 hours

Population: Randomized patients who used at least one dose of study medication and provided any post-treatment data for the primary efficacy endpoint (FAS)

ArmMeasureValue (LEAST_SQUARES_MEAN)Dispersion
PlaceboTime-weighted Sum of Pain Relief (PAR) and Pain Intensity Difference (PID) From 0 to 8 Hours (SPRID0-8h)10.554 units on a scaleStandard Error 3.527
CaffeineTime-weighted Sum of Pain Relief (PAR) and Pain Intensity Difference (PID) From 0 to 8 Hours (SPRID0-8h)15.824 units on a scaleStandard Error 3.525
IbuprofenTime-weighted Sum of Pain Relief (PAR) and Pain Intensity Difference (PID) From 0 to 8 Hours (SPRID0-8h)40.165 units on a scaleStandard Error 2.047
Ibuprofen/CaffeineTime-weighted Sum of Pain Relief (PAR) and Pain Intensity Difference (PID) From 0 to 8 Hours (SPRID0-8h)52.291 units on a scaleStandard Error 2.027
p-value: <0.000195% CI: [33.767, 49.708]ANCOVA
p-value: <0.000195% CI: [28.497, 44.437]ANCOVA
p-value: <0.000195% CI: [6.493, 17.759]ANCOVA
Secondary

Duration of Pain Relief

Duration of pain relief was defined as the time between the administration of first dose of trial medication and first dose of rescue medication or second dose of trial medication, whichever was first. Duration of pain relief was censored at 8 hours.

Time frame: 8 hours

Population: Patients who used at least one dose of study medication and provided any post-treatment data for the primary efficacy endpoint (FAS)

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
PlaceboDuration of Pain Relief1.63 hours
CaffeineDuration of Pain Relief2.08 hours
IbuprofenDuration of Pain Relief7.11 hours
Ibuprofen/CaffeineDuration of Pain Relief7.33 hours
Comparison: Ibuprofen/Caffeine vs. Placebop-value: <0.0001Log Rank
Comparison: Ibuprofen/Caffeine vs. Caffeinep-value: <0.0001Log Rank
Comparison: Ibuprofen/Caffeine vs. Ibuprofenp-value: 0.2389Log Rank
Secondary

Time to Meaningful Pain Relief

Time to meaningful pain relief was captured by a stopwatch, which was started by the study staff immediately after the administration of the first dose of trial medication and which was to be stopped by the patient as soon as he/she felt meaningful pain relief. Time to meaningful pain relief was censored at 8 hours.

Time frame: 8 hours

Population: Patients who used at least one dose of study medication and provided any post-treatment data for the primary efficacy endpoint (FAS)

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
PlaceboTime to Meaningful Pain ReliefNA hours
CaffeineTime to Meaningful Pain ReliefNA hours
IbuprofenTime to Meaningful Pain Relief1.78 hours
Ibuprofen/CaffeineTime to Meaningful Pain Relief1.13 hours
Comparison: Ibuprofen/Caffeine vs. Placebop-value: <0.0001Log Rank
Comparison: Ibuprofen/Caffeine vs. Caffeinep-value: <0.0001Log Rank
Comparison: Ibuprofen/Caffeine vs. Ibuprofenp-value: 0.0001Log Rank
Secondary

Time-weighted Sum of Pain Relief (PAR) and Pain Intensity Difference (PID) From 0 to 2 Hours (SPRID0-2h)

SPRID0-2h: Time-weighted sum of PAR and PID from 0 to 2 hours, score range: -10 (worst) to 28 (best). PI was assessed on a 0-10 numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), where 0=no pain and 10=worst possible pain, pre-dose and at 0.25,0.5,0.75,1,1.5 and 2 hours; PAR was assessed on a 5-point verbal rating scale (VRS) (0=none to 4=complete) at the same post-dose time points. Time-weights were equal to the elapsed time (hour) between the time point of interest and the preceding time point. All PAR and pain intensity (PI) assessments completed after the patient had taken rescue medication or the second dose of study medication, whichever was first, until hour 2 was considered missing. Last observation carried forward (LOCF) was used with the last completed PI/PAR assessments prior to first rescue/second study medication, whichever was first, to impute missing values up to 2 hours.

Time frame: 0 to 2 hours

Population: Patients who used at least one dose of study medication and provided any post-treatment data for the primary efficacy endpoint (FAS)

ArmMeasureValue (LEAST_SQUARES_MEAN)Dispersion
PlaceboTime-weighted Sum of Pain Relief (PAR) and Pain Intensity Difference (PID) From 0 to 2 Hours (SPRID0-2h)2.059 units on a scaleStandard Error 0.703
CaffeineTime-weighted Sum of Pain Relief (PAR) and Pain Intensity Difference (PID) From 0 to 2 Hours (SPRID0-2h)2.612 units on a scaleStandard Error 0.702
IbuprofenTime-weighted Sum of Pain Relief (PAR) and Pain Intensity Difference (PID) From 0 to 2 Hours (SPRID0-2h)6.990 units on a scaleStandard Error 0.408
Ibuprofen/CaffeineTime-weighted Sum of Pain Relief (PAR) and Pain Intensity Difference (PID) From 0 to 2 Hours (SPRID0-2h)10.584 units on a scaleStandard Error 0.404
p-value: <0.000195% CI: [6.937, 10.113]ANCOVA
p-value: <0.000195% CI: [6.384, 9.559]ANCOVA
p-value: <0.000195% CI: [2.472, 4.716]ANCOVA

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 27, 2026