Oxycodone Treats Abdominal Pain Without Masking Diagnosis

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Children with abdominal pain treated with the analgesic buccal oxycodone get much needed relief without having the medication obscure clinical signs of their condition or interfere with surgical diagnosis, according to new study.

Researchers in Finland performed a double-blind randomized study on 63 children who had abdominal pain that lasted no longer than seven days and who reported pain scores over five according to a special scale. The children received either the buccal oxycodone or a placebo (same volume of saline). Pain levels were evaluated and the same surgeon offered a diagnosis and described clinical symptoms.

Results show the physical signs and symptoms were similar between both groups of children. Diagnostic accuracy was not altered significantly by the early administration of the drug and was similar to the placebo group after continued observation. Overall, buccal oxycodone provided significantly more pain relief than the placebo.

Authors conclude, "Early administration of buccal oxycodone provides a significant pain relief to children with acute abdominal pain, without adversely altering the clinical signs or obscuring the surgical diagnosis."

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SOURCE: Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 2005;159:320-325