Efficacy of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), Muscle Relaxants and Neurotropic Drugs in Patients with Low Back Pain

To assess efficacy of different classes of drugs in therapy of low back pain. A prospective observational study was carried out over a period of 12 months in which a total of 300 patients with low back pain were enrolled and divided equally into three groups – group 1 (NSAIDs), group 2 (muscle relaxant ±NSAIDs) and group 3 (muscle relaxant ± NSAIDs ± neurotropic drugs). Efficacy of drugs was assessed using oswestry low back disability questionnaire at baseline, 3 weeks and 6 weeks, and the disability index was calculated. There was a male predominance in the study population with a mean age of 39.76 ± 9.40 years. Mean percentage reduction in disability index was maximum in group 2 (54.66±9.85), followed by group 3 (51.33 ± 6.95) and group 1 (46.78 ± 10.12). A significant inter-group difference (p