A CLINICAL STUDY OF AN AGONISt­ ANTAGONIST NALBUPHINE

Abstract

The opioid drugs remain the most common premedication agents although opinions are divided on whether or not they have any effect on anxiety (Pinnock et aL, 1985).

Nalbuphine is an effective premedicant which produces 30-40% incidence of sedation that is traditional aim of premedication (Pinnock et aL, 1985). The advantage ofnalbuphine as an agonist antagonist include greater cardiovascular stability and lesser respiratory depression than -• agonist narcotics (Richard and Scott, 1987).

Many reports have documented the use of nalbuphine as a supplement to surgical anaesthesia. Its use has been reported to reduce the MAC of halogenated inhalational anaesthetics requirements. High doses of nalbuphine do not produce either significant respiratory depression due to its ceiling effect or undesirable cardiovascular effects. In high doses it is proved also that nalbuphine is an effective drug for attenuating stress response to anaesthesia and surgery (Lee et aL, 1981).