Efficacy of Metamizole Versus Ibuprofen and a Short Educational Intervention Versus Standard Care in Acute Low Back Pain

Summary

The EMISI trial is a randomized, double blind, controlled trial (RCT) using a factorial design in patients with a new low back pain episode. The study aims to assess (A) whether metamizole, a non-opioid drug approved in Switzerland for pain treatment, is non-inferior to ibuprofen in a new episode of acute or subacute LBP and (B) whether a short educational intervention including evidence-based patient information is superior to usual care alone. Despite its increased use, the role of metamizole for the treatment of LBP is unclear and has so far not been systematically studied.

Timeline

Start

2019-12-15

Primary completion

2025-12-30

Completion

2025-12-31

Publications

• Background Wertli MM, Flury JS, Streit S, Limacher A, Schuler V, Ferrante AN, Rimensberger C, Haschke M. Efficacy of metamizole versus ibuprofen and a short educational intervention versus standard care in acute and subacute low back pain: a study protocol of a randomised, multicentre, factorial trial (EMISI trial). BMJ Open. 2021 Oct 13;11(10):e048531. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048531.
• Background Jermini-Gianinazzi I, Blum M, Trachsel M, Trippolini MA, Tochtermann N, Rimensberger C, Liechti FD, Wertli MM. Management of acute non-specific low back pain in the emergency department: do emergency physicians follow the guidelines? Results of a cross-sectional survey. BMJ Open. 2023 Aug 4;13(8):e071893. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071893.

Drugs

Indications

No indication recorded.