EVALUATION OF THE ANALGESIC EFFECT OF METOCLOPRAMIDE AFTER OPIOID-FREE ANALGESIA

Metoclopramide may enhance opioid analgesia, but it is not known if th e drug is analgesic itself. This question was examined in a double-bli nd, randomized study of 38 patients undergoing knee arthroscopy with o pioid-free anaesthesia comprising propofol, isoflurane and nitrous oxi de in oxygen. At the end of surgery, patients received either metoclop ramide 0.5 mg kg-1 or placebo iv. After operation, they received patie nt-controlled analgesia with pethidine for 3 h, during which period, p ain score was assessed on a visual analogue scale (VAS). There were no significant differences between the groups in the patterns of pethidi ne consumption. However, the VAS-pain scores tended to be smaller in t he metoclopramide group; this difference was significant 30 min after operation. These results do not demonstrate conclusively a clinically relevant analgesic action of metoclopramide.