thebaine and Pain--Postoperative

An open evaluation of relief from severe pain following major abdominal operations was carried out on at least ten patients, who had given written consent, with 0.1 to 0.4 mg doses of buprenorphine hydrochloride administered intramuscularly. Statistical analysis of the data showed that 0.3 mg of this compound provided quite satisfactory relief from pain for up to six hours. Seven more consenting patients were given buprenorphine hydrochloride 0.5 to 0.6 mg, but they did not receive much greater or longer pain relief than those receiving 0.3 to 0.4 mg. However, the latter patients were younger and heavier. It was concluded that buprenorphine hydrochloride 0.2 to 0.4 mg provided relief of severe pain probably as well as is observed with morphine 10 mg for the average-size patient, but the duration of pain relief with the new compound is substantially longer than with other strong analgesics previously tested. The only common side effect noted was drowsiness, which was observed during the analgesic action of the compound. No appreciable alterations were seen in the respiration, pulse rate and blood pressure. On the basis of these tests, buprenorphine hydrochloride appears to be a satisfactory analgesic for severe postoperative pain, and it deserves extensive study.

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Body Weight; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Clinical Trials as Topic; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pain, Postoperative; Sex Factors; Thebaine; Time Factors

In a double-blind, random assignment study of four groups of 40 patients, relief of severe pain with buprenorphine hydrochloride 0.2 mg or 0.4 mg was evaluated and compared with morphine sulphate 5 or 10 mg. Evaluations included pain intensity, pain relief, sedation and other effects for up to 12 hours after drug administration, following recovery of wakefulness from anaesthesia for major abdominal surgery. Analyses of five parameters showed that the four groups were statistically comparable and that buprenorphine hydrochloride is at least 50 times more potent than morphine sulphate and has a substantially longer duration of analgesic action. Further clinical evaluation is, therefore, recommended.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Clinical Trials as Topic; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Morphine; Pain, Postoperative; Thebaine; Time Factors