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Intranasal diamorphine, a semisynthetic morphine derivative, is commonly used in the U.K. for treatment of acute pain in children. As part of a national safety study funded by the manufacturer, researchers monitored adverse events associated with intranasal diamorphine administration in eight U.K. emergency departments. In total, 225 healthy pediatric patients, (age range, 2–16 years) received intranasal diamorphine (0.1 mg/kg) for treatment of acute pain treatment during 2010 and 2011.
The incidence of adverse events was 27%; no events were considered serious or severe. The most common events were nasal irritation (20%) and nausea or vomiting (4%). No vital sign abnormalities or respiratory depression was reported. Three patients had mildly…