title: Disposition of morphine-6-glucuronide and morphine in healthy volunteers.
abstract: The pharmacokinetics and subjective side effects of i.v. morphine sulphate 120 micrograms kg-1 and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) 30 micrograms kg-1 were determined in six healthy volunteers, using a placebo-controlled, single-blind randomized crossover design. Five of these volunteers underwent an additional (non-randomized) study of M6G 60 micrograms kg-1. Subjective side effects were similar following both drugs, but of shorter duration following M6G. Morphine was not detected after administration of M6G. For M6G 30 micrograms kg-1 the mean (SD) volume of distribution, elimination half-life and clearance were 29.38 (18.36) litre, 2.05 (1.2) h and 187.81 (37.41) litre h-1, respectively. These values were not significantly different from those obtained for M6G 60 micrograms kg-1. In all subjects the volumes of distribution and clearances were significantly smaller for M6G than for morphine, but the elimination half-lives were similar.
authors.affiliation: Pain Relief Research Unit, Kings College Hospital, School of Medicine and Dentistry, London.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Peat
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Knibb
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D009022:Morphine Derivatives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D009022:Morphine Derivatives; C035349:morphine-6-glucuronide; D009020:Morphine