Naproxen sodium vs. a combination of aspirin, phenacetin, caffeine and codeine phosphate for pain after major gynecologic surgery. A multicenter comparison.

In this multicenter study a nonnarcotic analgesic available for moderate pain, naproxen sodium, 550 mg, was compared to a combination that is used extensively for moderate to severe pain, aspirin, phenacetin, caffeine and codeine phosphate (APC/C) (60 mg of codeine phosphate). Women with pain after major gynecologic surgery reported a similar pattern in pain reduction with the two medications except for a relatively sharper increase in pain intensity between four and six hours after administration of APC/C. A smaller number of patient complaints suggested that naproxen sodium was better tolerated than APC/C.