Effect of analgesic agents on emptying of the gallbladder in man.

A controlled study of the clinical pharmacology of the biliary tract has been made. The rate of gallbladder emptying induced by a fatty meal was taken as a parameter for assessment of the inhibitory effect of indoprofen, a new analgesic-anti-inflammatory drug, pentazocine and morphine. The compounds were administered as single doses by iv (indoprofen and pentazocine) or im (morphine) injection. Indoprofen up to 400 mg had no effect, whereas morphine and pentazocine exerted a significant inhibitory effect on emptying of the gallbladder. Adverse reactions of clinical significance were associated with morphine and pentazocine, but were negligible with indoprofen.