Summary
21 healthy women undergoing gynaecological operations received rectal premedication with morphine 0.3 mg/kg body weight. Plasma concentrations of morphine were followed for 4 h by a GC/MS technique. In most patients the peak plasma concentration was reached after 30 min; the mean peak plasma level of morphine was 18 ng/ml (range 8.5–57 ng/ml). The bioavailability of rectal morphine was determined in 6 patients, who received an i.m. injection of morphine at a second operation. The mean bioavailability of rectal morphine was 31% (range 12%–61%). None of the patients showed any clinical sign of respiratory depression, and there was no increase in end-tidal carbon dioxide tension measured in 5 patients operated under spinal block.
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Westerling, D., Lindahl, S., Andersson, K.E. et al. Absorption and bioavailability of rectally administered morphine in women. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 23, 59–64 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01061378
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01061378