Safety and efficacy of hydromorphone as an analgesic alternative to morphine in acute pain: a randomized clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
We compare a standard weight-based dose of intravenous hydromorphone (Dilaudid) to a standard weight-based dose of intravenous morphine in adults presenting to the ED with acute severe pain.


METHODS
This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, clinical trial conducted in an academic medical center. Of the 198 adult patients presenting to the ED with acute severe pain who were randomized to receive either intravenous hydromorphone at 0.015 mg/kg or intravenous morphine at 0.1 mg/kg, 191 patients had sufficient data for analysis. The main outcome measure was the difference between the 2 groups in pain reduction at 30 minutes as measured on a validated numeric rating scale. Adverse effects, pain reduction at 5 minutes and 2 hours postbaseline, and additional analgesics and antiemetics were tracked as secondary outcome measures.


RESULTS
The mean change of pain from baseline to 30 minutes postbaseline in patients allocated to intravenous hydromorphone was -5.5 numeric rating scale units versus -4.1 in patients allocated to intravenous morphine (difference -1.3; 95% confidence interval -2.2 to -0.5). Adverse effects were similar in both groups, with the exception of pruritus, which did not occur in patients receiving hydromorphone (0% versus 6% [difference -6%; 95% confidence interval -11% to -1%]). No patient required naloxone.


CONCLUSIONS
For the treatment of acute, severe pain in the emergency department, intravenous hydromorphone at 0.015 mg/kg represents a feasible alternative to intravenous morphine at 0.1 mg/kg.
Chang
Andrew K
AK
Department of Emergency Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10467, USA. achang@montefiore.org
Bijur
Polly E
PE
Meyer
Robert H
RH
Kenny
Mark K
MK
Solorzano
Clemencia
C
Gallagher
E John
EJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004091:Hydromorphone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000932:Antiemetics; D009020:Morphine; D004091:Hydromorphone