Acute intravenous premedication with nalbuphine.

In a randomized, double blind study of 75 adult surgical patients, nalbuphine (0.1 mg/kg), morphine (0.1 mg/kg), or a placebo were administered intravenously as premedication 12 to 16 minutes prior to induction of anesthesia. Comparison of the 3 groups showed: (1) patients receiving nalbuphine and morphine had a significant reduction of minute ventilation and a significantly greater incidence of immediate side effects than did patients receiving placebo injections; (2) patients receiving morphine required no medication for pain in the early postoperative period; and (3) patients receiving nalbulphine experienced less nausea and/or vomiting postoperatively than did those in the other 2 groups.