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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

An Experimental Paradigm for the Prediction of Post-Operative Pain (PPOP)
Published on: January 27, 2010
Epidural morphine pruritus reduction with hydroxyzine in parturients
M M Juneja1, W E Ackerman, K Bellinger
1Department of Anesthesiology, Norton Hospital, Louisville, KY 40232-5070.
A majority of patients experience pruritus, nausea and/or emesis following epidural morphine administration post-cesarean section. Naloxone or diphenhydramine are commonly used to treat these side effects. Prevention or reduction in the incidence of side effects of epidural morphine is a clinical goal. The purpose of the study was to observe the efficacy of prophylactic administration of hydroxyzine on the incidence and severity of pruritus following the epidural administration of morphine in 40 patients who requested epidural morphine for postoperative pain relief. Group I (n = 20) received saline, while Group II (n = 20) received 50 mg of hydroxyzine ten minutes after the administration of 5 mg epidural morphine. Both solutions were administered by deep intramuscular injection in the thigh area. The results of this investigation demonstrated that hydroxyzine was efficacious in attenuating the incidence of severe pruritus.
A majority of patients experience pruritus, nausea and/or emesis following epidural morphine administration post-cesarean section. Naloxone or diphenhydramine are commonly used to treat these side effects. Prevention or reduction in the incidence of side effects of epidural morphine is a clinical goal. The purpose of the study was to observe the efficacy of prophylactic administration of hydroxyzine on the incidence and severity of pruritus following the epidural administration of morphine in 40 patients who requested epidural morphine for postoperative pain relief. Group I (n = 20) received saline, while Group II (n = 20) received 50 mg of hydroxyzine ten minutes after the administration of 5 mg epidural morphine. Both solutions were administered by deep intramuscular injection in the thigh area. The results of this investigation demonstrated that hydroxyzine was efficacious in attenuating the incidence of severe pruritus.
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