STUDIES OF DRUGS GIVEN BEFORE ANAESTHESIA VII: PETHIDINE-PHENOTHIAZINE COMBINATIONS

Abstract

Mixtures of pethidine 100 mg, atropine 0·6 mg and six phenothiazine derivatives were studied as premedication before minor operations carried out under methohexitone nitrous oxide-oxygen anaesthesia. None proved to be ideal, but each had some advantage. Promazine and triflupromazine increased the hypnotic action of the analgesic and the incidence of hypotension. Perphenazine and thiethylperazine both markedly reduced the emetic effects attributable to pethidine but were not very good sedatives. Propiomazine in 20-mg doses was a mild non-toxic hypnotic with a moderate anti-emetic action. A high incidence of restlessness marred the beneficial effects of promethazine 50 mg, but 25 and 10 mg were both very satisfactory adjuvants to pethidine.