Epidural morphine in treatment of pain

Lancet. 1979 Mar 10;1(8115):527-9. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(79)90947-4.

Abstract

Epidural injections of a 2 mg morphine were given to 10 patients with severe acute or chronic pain. All cases had considerable amelioration of pain, which commenced within 2-3 min, reached a peak in 10-15 min, and was effective for 6-24 h. It is suggested that the morphine reached the subarachnoid space and produced its effect by direct action on the specific opiate receptors in the substantia gelatinosa of the posterior-horn cells of the spinal cord.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Analgesia / methods*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Epidural Space / drug effects
  • Female
  • Fractures, Bone / complications
  • Humans
  • Injections
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Morphine / administration & dosage*
  • Pain / etiology
  • Pain, Intractable / drug therapy*
  • Pain, Postoperative / drug therapy*
  • Receptors, Opioid / drug effects
  • Substantia Gelatinosa / drug effects

Substances

  • Receptors, Opioid
  • Morphine