THE ANALGESIC EFFECTIVENESS OF CODEINE AND MEPERIDINE (DEMEROL)

¹ The Anesthesia Laboratory of the Harvard Medical School at the Massachusetts General Hospital

The analgesic potency of codeine and of meperidine has been assessed in patients suffering from post-operative pain.

Codeine, in parenteral doses of 60 to 120 mgm., approached but did not surpass the analgesic potency of 10 mgm. of morphine. Increasing the dose above 60 mgm. yielded primarily a prolongation of effect.

Meperidine, in parenteral doses of 50 to 100 mgm., was at least as good as 10 mgm. of morphine in incidence and duration of pain relief.

The side action liability of codeine (60 to 120 mgm.) has been studied in 10 healthy male subjects, and compared with that of morphine (10 mgm.). The incidence of troublesome subjective side effects, and the inhibition of respiratory response to inhaled 5 per cent carbon dioxide, were of the same order of magnitude after both drugs.