Epidural morphine for postherpetic neuralgia.
Eleven patients with established postherpetic neuralgia, unresponsive to antidepressant therapy, entered this single-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the effectiveness of epidural morphine in the control of the pain of postherpetic neuralgia. Two patients obtained a reduction in pain of greater than 50% following morphine 0.5 mg. The duration of this pain relief was 36 h in one patient and 72 h in the other. Repeated doses, however, were ineffective in one patient and resulted in intolerable side effects in the other. The other six patients who received morphine developed opioid-related side effects without pain relief. Three patients did not receive morphine as they gained significant, long-lasting pain relief from placebo. Two retained that benefit for more than 6 months. Epidural morphine is more likely to produce side effects than pain relief when administered to patients with postherpetic neuralgia.
Watt
J W
JW
Pain Relief Foundation, Liverpool.
Wiles
J R
JR
Bowsher
D R
DR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine