A comparison of buprenorphine and pentazocine for the relief of postoperative pain.

The analgesic potency, efficacy, duration of action and side-effects of buprenorphine (Temgesic) 0.3 mg and 0.6 mg were compared with those of pentazocine (Sosegon) 30 mg and 60 mg in 100 male patients who had undergone orthopaedic surgical procedures. The drugs were given by intramuscular injection 30 minutes before completion of the surgical procedure, and the quality of pain relief and incidence of side-effects were assessed at 30-minute intervals for at least 6 hours. Buprenorphine was shown to be safe, to be more potent and to have a longer duration of action than pentazocine, and to result in less nausea, vomiting and euphoria, but it was associated with a higher incidence of postoperative sedation than pentazocine.