[Analgesic effect and side-effects of buprenorphine in acute coronary heart disease. A randomized double-blind comparison with morphine].

The analgetic effect and the side effects of buprenorphine (Temgesic) and morphine were compared in a double blind randomised study in 76 patients with suspected acute coronary heart disease. In 68 patients the acute coronary heart disease could be proven, in 61 patients the protocols could be entirely analysed. In 7 of 30 patients on buprenorphine and in 10 of 31 on morphine the analgetic effect was not sufficient (n.s.). The observed side effects were hypotension, bradycardia, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, reduction in respiratory rate and sedation. There were no significant differences in the rate of these side effects in the two groups. The average reduction in respiratory rate was more prominent in the buprenorphine group (-8 vs. -3/min. p less than 0.001) but we found no significant difference in both groups in the number of patient with a respiratory rate less than 12/min. We conclude that buprenorphine is safe for use in the pain therapy of patients with acute coronary heart disease and has a similar analgetic effect and profile of side effects as morphine. It can be used as an alternative to morphine in acute coronary heart disease.