Relief of pain after surgery. A comparison of sublingual buprenorphine and intramuscular papaveretum.

Sublingual buprenorphine (0.4 mg) and intramuscular papaveretum (20 mg) were compared in sixty patients after abdominal hysterectomy. Though slower in onset of effect the sublingual tablets proved effective for pain relief and appeared to have a longer duration of action. The only side-effects of note were nausea and vomiting which occurred after both treatments. Haloperidol was tried as a long acting antiemetic and appeared successful.