British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Analgesic and sympatholytic effects of low-dose intrathecal clonidine compared with bupivacaine: a dose-response study in female volunteers.
A wide range of doses has been suggested for intrathecal clonidine, but no dose-ranging study has examined analgesic effects below 100 µg. The primary aim of this volunteer study was to assess the dose vs analgesic effect relationship for doses of intrathecal clonidine below 100 µg. ⋯ After 50 µg clonidine or 5 mg bupivacaine, the heat pain tolerance increased by ∼1°C, similar to the analgesic effect of 5 mg epidural morphine or 30 µg epidural fentanyl in previous studies using this experimental heat pain model. Our results provide additional data for rational dose selection of intrathecal clonidine.