The Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Epidural morphine pruritus reduction with hydroxyzine in parturients.
A majority of patients experience pruritus, nausea and/or emesis following epidural morphine administration post-cesarean section. Naloxone or diphenhydramine are commonly used to treat these side effects. Prevention or reduction in the incidence of side effects of epidural morphine is a clinical goal. ⋯ Group I (n = 20) received saline, while Group II (n = 20) received 50 mg of hydroxyzine ten minutes after the administration of 5 mg epidural morphine. Both solutions were administered by deep intramuscular injection in the thigh area. The results of this investigation demonstrated that hydroxyzine was efficacious in attenuating the incidence of severe pruritus.