Synergistic analgesic combination of oxycodone and rofecoxib

A method of effectively treating pain in humans or other mammals, comprising administering to a patient an analgesic combination consisting essentially of rofecoxib and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;

• and oxycodone and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof such that the dosing interval of the rofecoxib and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof overlaps with the dosing interval of the oxycodone and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A method of reducing the oxycodone and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof required to treat a patient affected with pain, comprising co-administering said oxycodone and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof with rofecoxib and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to augment the analgesia attributable to said oxycodone and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof during at least a portion of the dosage interval of said oxycodone and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A method of reducing the amount of rofecoxib and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof required to treat a patient affected with pain comprising co-administering said rofecoxib and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof with an effective amount of oxycodone and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to augment the analgesia attributable to said rofecoxib and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof during at least a portion of the dosage interval of said rofecoxib and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.