title: Assessment of the analgesic efficacy of nefopam hydrochloride after upper abdominal surgery: a study using patient controlled analgesia.
abstract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed to assess the analgesic efficacy of intramuscular nefopam hydrochloride after upper abdominal surgery. Patients received either 20 mg nefopam (n = 23) or matching placebo (n = 26), 90 min before surgery, immediately after surgery, and 6, 12 and 18 h after the end of surgery. The 24-h morphine requirements were measured using a patient-controlled analgesia system delivering on-demand intravenous bolus doses of morphine. Pain was assessed using visual analogue scales. Patients receiving nefopam had a mean (+/- s.e.m.) cumulative morphine consumption of 4.1 +/- 0.8 mg in the first hour, compared with 8.5 +/- 0.8 mg in the control group (P less than 0.01). After 24 h the consumptions were 44.1 +/- 7.2 mg and 62.5 +/- 6.9 mg respectively (P less than 0.05). The pain scores in both groups were similar. This study confirms that nefopam hydrochloride has significant analgesic effects and would be a useful supplement to morphine in the management of postoperative pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: McLintock
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Howie
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: McArdle
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lawrie
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aitken
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009340:Nefopam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010079:Oxazocines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012646:Self Administration; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010079:Oxazocines; D009340:Nefopam; D009020:Morphine