[The usefulness of dexamethasonephosphate in the conservative treatment of lumbar pain--a double-blind study (author's transl)].

Analgesic drugs, physiotherapy and corticosteroids are concurrently used in the conservative treatment of lumbar pain. In 100 patients a double-blind study with dexamethasonephosphate versus placebo was performed. Lumbar pain and no findings with myelography were the basic requirements for inclusion into the study. There was no significant difference between the treatment group and the placebo group concerning the clinical investigation before and after treatment. The positive effect of dexamethasonephosphate, which was seen in a pilot study, was not confirmed in the double-blind study. Because corticosteroids are also psychotropic drugs there is a mild antidepressive effect. Considering the fact that cortisone has no effect on the symptoms of lumbar pain, it should not be used furthermore in the conservative treatment of lumbar pain.