Double blind study of meptazinol versus pentazocine and placebo in postoperative pain treatment.

The purpose of this double blind study was to evaluate the efficiency and safety of a new analgesic drug meptazinol, compared to pentazocine and placebo, in patients suffering from postoperative pain. Subjective and objective parameters were controlled. It appeared clearly that meptazinol had a potent analgesic effect with rapid onset, but rather short duration. Analgesic effect of pentazocine appeared more slowly, but persisted for a longer time. The two active drugs had no effects on the objective parameters measured.