Effect of metoclopramide on pain on injection of propofol.

We undertook a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to examine the efficacy of metoclopramide at three different doses (2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg) for reducing pain on injection of propofol in 100 patients scheduled for elective surgery. Patients received intravenously the study drug, with venous occlusion for one minute, followed by propofol 2 mg/kg into a dorsal hand vein. The incidence of pain was significantly less in patients receiving metoclopramide 5 mg (32%) or 10 mg (28%) than in patients receiving placebo (80%) (P<0.01). No difference between metoclopramide 2.5 mg and the placebo groups was found. We conclude that pretreatment of a dorsal hand vein with metoclopramide in a dose of 5 or 10 mg, with venous occlusion for one minute, effectively decreases the incidence of pain caused by propofol injection.