TREATMENT OF OPIOID-INDUCED PRURITUS WITH ONDANSETRON - REPORT OF 4 PATIENTS

Pruritus is a common side effect after neuraxial administration of the opioids; particularly morphine sulfate. Ondansetron has been used to treat the pruritus in patients with cholestatic diseases or renal insu fficiency, suggesting that pruritus may be mediated by serotonin. We a dministered ondansetron to four patients suffering from pruritus due t o the perioperative administration of opioids. Pruritus disappeared wi thin few minutes in three of these patients. Future studies are necess ary to evaluate the efficacy of ondansetron for the treatment as well as the prevention of this opioid-induced effect.