Comparison of diflunisal and acetaminophen with codeine in the treatment of initial or recurrent acute low back strain.

Effective pain relief and patient tolerance and acceptance are essential in outpatient management of mild to moderate pain of acute low back strain. This study evaluated the efficacy, tolerability, and acceptability of diflunisal and acetaminophen with codeine in patients with mild to moderate pain after an initial or recurrent acute low back strain. Both drugs demonstrated equipotent analgesic efficacy; however, diflunisal was superior to acetaminophen with codeine for patient tolerability and acceptability. The results demonstrated that the study drugs were effective in treating mild to moderate pain caused by acute low back strain in an ambulatory care setting.