The present invention is a method of achieving
fast onset of
pain relief for
acute pain in a patient in need thereof comprising orally administering a unitary formulation (or oral
dosage form) containing an effective
analgesic amount of (a)
oxycodone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and (b)
ibuprofen or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Preferably, the unitary formulation contains (a)
oxycodone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and (b)
ibuprofen or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof at a weight ratio of from about 1:20 to about 1:100 and more preferably about 1:40 to about 1:80, based on the weights of
molar equivalents of
oxycodone hydrochloride and
ibuprofen, respectively. Preferably, an amount of oxycodone and ibuprofen effective to provide partial or complete
pain relief within 30 minutes is administered. More preferably, the amount is sufficient to provide partial or complete
pain relief within 25 minutes. It has been discovered that administration of an oral
dosage form containing both oxycodone and ibuprofen provides earlier onset of pain relief than administration of either
active ingredient alone. Moreover, the earlier onset of pain relief may be attributable at least in part to administration of a single
dosage form containing both active ingredients as opposed to administering oxycodone and ibuprofen in separate oral dosage forms (i.e., administration of a first dosage form containing oxycodone and a second dosage form containing ibuprofen). The method of the present invention is particularly useful for treating acute
postoperative pain, including, but not limited to, moderate and / or severe acute
postoperative pain (such as that resulting from
dental surgery).