Morphine as Effective as Meperidine for Renal Colic

Meperidine (also known as pethidine) is falling out of favor as an opioid analgesic because of its many well-known side effects and the availability of safer agents such as morphine. These investigators in New Zealand compared morphine and pethidine for the treatment of renal colic.

Ninety-four patients with suspected renal colic (consistent clinical history and urine positive for blood) were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind trial. All patients received 10 mg of IV metoclopramide followed by titrated IV doses of up to 10 mg of morphine or 100 mg of pethidine. There was no placebo group. The initial pain scores, decrease in pain scores, side effects, and patient satisfaction were the same in both groups.