- Included patients had moderate to severe pain, as measured by the Sore Throat Pain
Intensity Scale (STPIS) on swallowing ≥66 mm on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS)
and a minimum of 4 points on the 10-point Tonsillo-Pharyngitis Score (TPS) but who
were not coughing or experiencing any evidence of mouth-breathing.
- Patients who used throat lozenges, throat spray, cough drops or menthol-containing
products within 2 hours, short-acting analgesics/antipyretics (eg, ibuprofen) or any
form of cold medication within 8 hours, antibiotics for acute disease within 24 hours
of first dose of study medication, or presumed diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis,
known allergy or hypersensitivity to NSAIDs, COX-2 specific inhibitors, sulfonamides,
or acetaminophen were excluded.