Intramuscular buprenorphine compared with morphine for postoperative analgesia.

The postoperative analgesic efficacy of buprenorphine (Temgesic; R & C Pharmaceuticals) 0.004 mg/kg and morphine 0.15 mg/kg were compared in 60 patients, both agents given by intramuscular injection. According to patients, buprenorphine gave better analgesia. There was no difference in the number of analgesic injections the two groups received in the 24-hour postoperative period. Cardiovascular and respiratory systems were not depressed by either drug. Side-effects were not marked, nausea being the most common in both groups. Morphine had a greater effect on the mood of patients. Buprenorphine proved a satisfactory analgesic for postoperative use by intramuscular injection.