Abstract
The alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine has analgesic properties comparable to those of opioids after systemic administration. It also has antihypertensive, antiemetic, anxiolytic, sedative and antisialogogue effects and reduces the incidence of shivering. Thus, the pharmacodynamic profile of clonidine seems to suit it quite well for the special problems related to recovery from anaesthesia. The respiratory depression is weak, particularly in comparison with opioids. This paper reviews previous experience with systemic administration of alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonists for postoperative pain relief. Especially in combination with low-dose opioids, clonidine leads to a similar or even better level of pain relief with significantly reduced adverse side effects compared with opioid mono-therapy, perhaps because different sites of action are addressed and influence nociception. Therefore, balanced postoperative analgesia including alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonists, therefore seems to be a beneficial addition to differentiated postoperative pain relief.
References
Sep 1, 1979·European Journal of Pharmacology·T C SpauldingH Lal
Feb 1, 1992·Pain·N C GordonJ D Levine
Dec 1, 1992·Anesthesiology·J P BellevilleM Maze
Dec 1, 1992·Anesthesiology·B C BloorM Maze
Jun 1, 1992·Anesthesiology·D A JarvisM Maze
Jul 1, 1992·Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia = Journal Canadien D'anesthésie·M F De KockJ L Scholtes
Dec 1, 1991·Anaesthesia·S Feldman, R Ooi
Jan 1, 1991·Anesthesiology·P L BaileyT H Stanley
Oct 1, 1991·Anesthesiology·J M BernardM Pinaud
Dec 1, 1991·Anesthesia and Analgesia·D BenhamouC Ecoffey
Feb 1, 1991·Anesthesiology·I S SegalM Maze
Feb 1, 1991·Anesthesiology·L QuintinJ Motin
Jan 1, 1991·British Journal of Anaesthesia·L QuintinM Ghignone
Mar 1, 1991·British Journal of Anaesthesia·S BellaïcheF Roujas
Mar 1, 1990·Anesthesiology·F BonnetM Saada
Aug 1, 1989·British Journal of Anaesthesia·H Kehlet
Sep 24, 1984·Brain Research·J Sagen, H K Proudfit
Feb 1, 1993·Anästhesiologie, Intensivmedizin, Notfallmedizin, Schmerztherapie : AINS·P Bischoff, E Kochs
Feb 1, 1994·Anaesthesia and Intensive Care·M De KockJ L Scholtes
May 1, 1994·British Journal of Anaesthesia·D BenhamouF Sembeil
May 1, 1993·Journal of Clinical Anesthesia·W H StriebelJ A Krämer
Aug 1, 1993·Anesthesia and Analgesia·C J Woolf, M S Chong
Sep 1, 1993·Anesthesiology·M De KockJ L Scholtes
Feb 1, 1993·Journal of Neuroimmunology·K PardyK M Hui
Mar 1, 1994·Der Schmerz·M Tryba
Mar 1, 1994·Der Schmerz·R SümpelmannJ M Strauß
Mar 1, 1992·Der Schmerz·M Tryba