A comparison of analgesic effectiveness of oral butorphanol/acetaminophen, oxycodone/acetaminophen and placebo in hospitalized postsurgical patients.

One hundred four patients with moderate to severe postoperative pain participated in a double-blind study comparing butorphanol/acetaminophen with oxycodone/acetaminophen and placebo with respect to analgesic effectiveness and incidence of side effects. Pain was rated by the patients and an observer; sums of these data were calculated. Side effects, their severity and their relationship to the drug were recorded. Both active medications provided statistically significant levels of analgesia as compared with placebo. Analgesia produced by both combinations of drugs was statistically similar until 4 hours postdrug. From 4 to 6 hours postdrug, butorphanol/acetaminophen was significantly more analgesic. Both active medications produced analgesia within 0.5 hours, showing a peak effect at 1 to 2 hours and lasting for 6 hours. The incidence of side effects was minimal and statistically equivalent for each treatment group.