Clinical effects of parenteral narcotics in hospitalized medical patients

Of 38,221 hospitalized medical patients monitored by a drug surveillance program, 1821 (4.8 per cent) received morphine, 504 (1.3 per cent) received codeine, 493 (1.3 per cent) received papaveretum, 115 (0.3 per cent) received hydromorphone, and 101 (0.3 per cent) received methadone parenterally. Hydromorphone had an unusually high adverse reaction rate (18 per cent); therefore, it probably should not be used since other equally effective strong analgesics are available. Adverse reactions occurred in 2 per cent of papaveretum recipients, in 4 per cent of methadone and codeine recipients, and in 6 per cent of morphine recipients. Gastrointestinal reactions (primarily nausea, vomiting, and constipation) were most common. Central nervous system disturbances (primarily respiratory depression, drowsiness, and confusion) were second most common. Adverse reactions occurred more often with higher doses of morphine and codeine; the dose-response relationship could not be evaluated for the other three drugs. Life-threatening adverse reactions were reported in 28 patients. Respiratory depression was the most common life-threatening reaction. Most patients with these reactions were seriously ill, and many received other drugs that may have contributed to the event.