Ketorolac tromethamine as compared with morphine sulfate for treatment of postoperative pain.

Abstract

Ketorolac tromethamine, a nonnarcotic, prostaglandin synthesis-inhibiting analgesic, was compared with morphine sulfate for relief of moderate to severe postoperative pain. The 155 patient participants received single intramuscular doses of either ketorolac, 10, 30, or 90 mg, or morphine, 6 or 12 mg, administered in a double-blind, randomized fashion. Pain scores (verbal and visual analog) were recorded at baseline and assessed at 30 minutes and then hourly to 6 hours. Pain relief was rated at the same times. Ketorolac, 90 and 30 mg, was rated significantly better than morphine, 6 mg, at each assessment interval after 1 hour. Ketorolac, 90 and 30 mg, was rated similarly to morphine, 12 mg, for the first 3 hours and better than morphine, 12 mg, 4 hours after injection. There were no serious side effects reported. The only side effect reported in more than 3% of patients was 8% somnolence with morphine. This study shows ketorolac to be a safe and effective analgesic for relief of postoperative pain.

• Authors: D A O'Hara, R J Fragen, M Kinzer, D Pemberton
• Journal: Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics (Clin Pharmacol Ther) Vol. 41 Issue 5 Pg. 556-61 (May 1987) ISSN: 0009-9236 [Print] United States
• PMID: 3568540 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Drug Combinations
• Pyrroles
• Tromethamine
• Ketorolac Tromethamine
• Morphine
• Tolmetin

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Drug Combinations (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Injections, Intramuscular
• Ketorolac Tromethamine
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Morphine (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Pain, Postoperative (drug therapy)
• Pyrroles (therapeutic use)
• Tolmetin (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Tromethamine (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)