TITLE:
Efficacy of Piroxicam versus Diclofenac as Component of Multimodal Analgesic for Post Caesarean Section Analgesia
AUTHORS:
Mmeregini Godwin, Mbanefo C. Okechukwu, Adebayo A. Joshua, Uche-Omovoh C. Ifeoma, Nweke N. Assumpta, Obasi J. Chinedu, Nwafor V. Amuchechukwu, Iwe B. Chukwujioke
KEYWORDS:
Pentazocine, Piroxicam, Diclofenac, Post Caesarean Analgesia
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.12 No.7,
July
29,
2025
ABSTRACT: Background: Postoperative pain is unavoidable after caesarean section. It constitutes a big challenge to the patient’s recovery and maternal-infant bonding. The importance of adequate pain control cannot be over emphasized. A multimodal approach to post caesarean section pain control has been shown to enhance analgesia but the right combination of analgesics is yet to be determined. Objective: To compare the efficacy of Pentazocine and Piroxicam versus Pentazocine and Diclofenac for post caesarean section analgesia within the first 24 hours. Method: Eligible participants undergoing elective caesarean section at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AEFUTHA) and St Patrick’s Mile 4 Hospital Abakaliki were randomized into two groups, A and B, of 54 participants each. Group A received a single dose of intramuscular Piroxicam 20 mg, while group B received two doses of intramuscular Diclofenac 75 mg given 12 hours apart. Participants in both groups also received intramuscular Pentazocine 30 mg 6 hourly for 24 hours. The first dose of the drugs was administered immediately after skin closure. Control of postoperative pain within the first 24 hours after caesarean section was assessed using a visual analogue scale. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS. A p-value Results: The mean VAS scores were significantly lower in the diclofenac group than in the piroxicam group at rest (diclofenac group 1.7 ± 0.9, piroxicam group 2.7 ± 1.3; p-value Conclusion: Multimodal analgesic combination of pentazocine-diclofenac was found to be superior to pentazocine-piroxicam and was associated with a higher level of maternal satisfaction.