Intravenous indomethacin in biliary pain. A clinical investigation with metamizole as the control.

The efficacy of single doses of intravenously administered indomethacin (50 mg) and metamizole (2.5 g) in the relief of biliary pain were compared in 60 consecutive patients attending the emergency ward of university central hospital. There were no statistically significant differences between the two treatment groups. There was no response in 13.3% in both groups and additional analgecics were required by 20% of the patients in both groups. Intravenous indomethacin is a recommendable alternative for intravenous metamizole in the treatment of biliary pain and the risks for agranulocytosis appear to be lesser than those associated with metamizole.