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Efficacy of phloroglucinol for treatment of abdominal pain: a systematic review of literature and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials versus placebo

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Abstract

Aim

Phloroglucinol is a musculotropic anti-spasmodic drug. It is frequently prescribed in many European countries with a considerable cost for health services. The purpose of this study was to review the existing randomised controlled trials (RCT) comparing the efficacy of phloroglucinol treating abdominal pain versus placebo.

Methods

A literature search was carried out up to May 2017 to select RCT comparing the effect of phloroglucinol versus placebo with intensity of abdominal pain as an endpoint. Studies concerning obstetric or gynaecologic-related pain were not included.

Results

Three RCT were included and then analysed for risk of bias and meta-analysed. Only one RCT found that phloroglucinol was superior to placebo, although with a high risk of bias. The meta-analysis found a risk ratio of 1.10 (95% CI 0.95, 1.27) with no statistical significance.

Discussion

There is insufficient data to justify the wide-spread prescription of phloroglucinol for alleviating abdominal pain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Medicine, University of Poitiers, 6 rue de la Milétrie, TSA 51115, 86073, Poitiers Cedex 9, France

    Clara Blanchard, Paul Vanderkam & Rémy Boussageon

  2. Department of General Medicine, University of Tours, 10 boulevard Tonnelé, 37032, Tours Cedex 1, France

    Denis Pouchain

  3. Clinical Pharmacology and Awareness Department, University Hospital of Poitiers, 2 rue de la Milétrie, BP 577, 86021, Poitiers Cedex, France

    Marie-Christine Perault-Pochat

  4. Department of General Medicine and UPU ACCePPT, University of Auvergne, 28 place Henri Dunant, BP 38, 63001, Clermont-Ferrand Cedex 1, France

    Hélène Vaillant-Roussel

Authors
  1. Clara Blanchard
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  2. Denis Pouchain
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Contributions

Clara Blanchard: performed the research, analysed the data and wrote the paper.

Denis Pouchain: contributed to the writing of the paper and to the analysis of the data.

Paul Vanderkam: contributed to the writing of the paper.

Marie-Christine Perrault-Pochat: contributed to the analysis of the data.

Remy Boussageon: conceived the study and analysed the data.

Hélène Vaillant-Roussel: analysed the data and contributed to the writing of the paper.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Clara Blanchard.

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Blanchard, C., Pouchain, D., Vanderkam, P. et al. Efficacy of phloroglucinol for treatment of abdominal pain: a systematic review of literature and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials versus placebo. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 74, 541–548 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-018-2416-6

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