Study of a new analgesic compound in the treatment of tension headache.

The effect of a new analgesic compound (propoxyphene, acetaminophen, caffeine, hydroxyzine) was investigated in a single-blind study comparing it with plain acetaminophen administered to forty patients with tension headache. For the study, patients were assigned to one of two groups of twenty each. Starting dose for each group was one to two tablets followed by one tablet every four to six hours. The results show that 90% clinical success was obtained with the analgesic compound, while a 45% success was obtained with plain acetaminophen. This is a statistically significant difference. Side-effects observed with analgesic compound were primarily drowsiness and dizziness of mild intensity; acetaminophen caused gastro-intestinal alterations (nausea, vomiting) and dizziness of greater severity. Therapy was withdrawn in 20% of patients taking acetaminophen because of side-effects. The dosage of analgesic compound required to control each episode of tension headache was smaller than that of acetaminophen. These results can be explained by a possible potentiation of pharmacological activity of the compound's components. It can be concluded that the analgesic compound is a new and effective combination for the symptomatic treatment of tension headache.