Abstract
The analgesic, respiratory and subjective effects of 30 and 60 mgm. of dihydrocodeine have been studied in hospitalized patients and normal subjects. These effects have been compared to those of a placebo and 10 mgm. of morphine.
Thirty milligrams of dihydrocodeine produced a high incidence of analgesia with slight respiratory depression and few subjective effects compared to a placebo.
Sixty milligrams of dihydrocodeine was the analgesic equivalent of 10 mgm. of morphine, but at this dose approached morphine in respiratory and subjective effects. Ninety milligrams of dihydrocodeine was no more effective an analgesic than 60 mgm.
Dihydrocodeine is not an analgesic of the morphine type, but rather a codeine of increased effectiveness. Sedation was not produced by either dose level of dihydrocodeine.
Footnotes
- Received February 11, 1957.
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