Non-Opioid Analgesics in the Treatment of Acute Pain

Dipyrone is an antipyretic analgesic with an additional intrinsic spasmolytic activity. It has been in clinical use for the last 75 years, but about 20 years ago, concern arose over the implications of isolated reports of agranulocytosis following the use of dipyrone, the Swedish authorities ordered the withdrawal of the drug from the market. Subsequently, dipyrone has been subjected to comparative epidemiological and clinical studies, and these showed that dipyrone was a versatile analgesic with an overall risk of serious adverse effects than most other non-opioid analgesics. The Swedish authorities therefore approved the reintroduction of dipyrone as a contribution to pain treatment. This text contains the highlights of a symposium on the action, efficacy, and safety of dipyrone, and highlight the therapeutic basis for the use of dipyrone in the treatment of acute post-operative pain.