A double-blind comparison of oral butorphanol and codeine

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The analgesic properties and side-effects of butorphanol tartrate were compared to those of codeine phosphate in a double-blind, multiple dose, oral study in 54 patients with moderate to severe post-operative pain. The average unit dose was 8 mg butorphanol or 60 mg codeine, as required, for 3 days. The level of analgesia was measured by determining pain relief scored over 4 hours after administration of the study medication. The time required for onset of analgesia and the overall global effectiveness (patient and observer) of the medication were also recorded. Overall pain relief and remedication intervals for successive doses were calculated from the data. There was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) between the two treatments based on an analysis of pain relief, onset time, duration and remedication interval data obtained at the first dose evaluation as well as on the global effectiveness rating. Based on the first dose evaluation data, both medications produced analgesia in about 30 minutes, showed a peak effect at approximately 1 to 2 hours, and a duration of analgesic activity for at least 4 hours. The treatments were also similar, based upon the remedication interval between doses, the number of tablets taken, as well as with respect to pain relief ratings. The overall global rating was good to excellent in nearly all patients in both the butorphanol and the codeine treatment groups.

This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit: