title: Effect of intravenous alizapride on spinal morphine-induced pruritus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This double-blind study was undertaken to determine whether alizapride inhibits spinal morphine-induced pruritus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-four patients undergoing Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia (100 mg of hyperbaric lidocaine 5% plus morphine 0.2 mg) were randomly allocated to one of two groups. Just after birth, alizapride-50 mg (alizapride group) or metoclopramide-10 mg (metoclopramide group) were injected i.v. Patients were assessed after surgery for pruritus (absent, mild, moderate or severe) or other untoward symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the metoclopramide group, pruritus was absent in 5 (12%) patients, mild in 23 (55%), moderate in 11 (26%), and severe in 3 (7%), while in the alizapride group, these incidences were, respectively, 5 (12%), 33 (79%), 4 (10%), and 0 (P=0.045, chi(2)-test). There was no difference in the incidence of side-effects, which were all minor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alizapride reduced the severity of morphine-induced pruritus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Pelotas, Brazil. marciolhorta@uol.com.br
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Horta
authors.forename: P T G
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Vianna
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000982:Antipruritics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009020:Morphine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000932:Antiemetics; D000982:Antipruritics; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D009020:Morphine; C033968:alizapride