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Effects of epidural naloxone on pruritus induced by epidural morphine: a randomized controlled trial
1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
Background:
Epidural morphine produces prolonged analgesia but has many side effects including pruritus. Naloxone is an antagonist that can reverse the side effects of morphine.
Method:
We studied the effects of continuously administered epidural naloxone mixed with morphine on side effects and analgesia in a randomized, double blind, two-armed study. Fifty-eight pregnant women undergoing cesarean section were enrolled. All patients received a 4-mg epidural bolus of morphine in the post-anesthetic care unit. After this, patients in group M (n=28) received continuous epidural morphine (6 mg over 48 h) in 0.1% bupivacaine; patients in group N (n=30) received an epidural infusion containing naloxone (1.2 mg over 48 h) and morphine (6 mg over 48 h) in 0.1% bupivacaine. The infusion rate was 2 mL/h.
Results:
The incidence (82% versus 47%) and severity of pruritus were lower in group N than group M (P=0.001). There were no significant differences in pain score or in the incidence of nausea, vomiting or urinary disturbance between groups.
Conclusion:
Continuous epidural infusion of naloxone combined with morphine is effective in reducing the incidence and severity of pruritus induced by epidural morphine.
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