Compatibility and stability of ternary admixtures of tramadol, haloperidol, and hyoscine N-butyl bromide: retrospective clinical evaluation

The Effect of Aromatherapy with Citrus aurantium Aroma on Pain after Orthopedic Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction

Postoperative pain is one of the most common physiological and psychological stress in patients that disrupts body function and can endanger patients' health. This study aims to determine the effect of aromatherapy with Citrus aurantium essential on pain after orthopedic surgery.

Methods

This randomized clinical trial was performed on 60 candidates for orthopedic surgery. Patients were selected through convenience sampling and divided into intervention and control groups through randomized block allocation. If the visual analogue scale (VAS) score was above 3, patients in the intervention group received aromatherapy with C. aurantium essential and the patients in the control group received a placebo (almond oil). VAS was used to measure pain. Data analysis was performed using independent t test, paired t test, and analysis of variance with repeated measures using SPSS software version 13.

Results

Mean (SD) of pain intensity after intervention in experimental and control groups within 4, 8, and 12 hours after surgery was 7.30 (1.23) vs. 7.90 (0.99), 5.30 (0.98) versus 5.53 (0.68) and 2.53 (0.9) vs. 3.60 (0.77) respectively. The findings indicated that there was a significant difference in mean pain intensity between the experimental and control groups at 4 and 12 hours after surgery. Use of analysis of variance with repeated measures test with taking into account the interaction of time and group also showed a significant difference in mean pain intensity between the two experimental and control groups.

Conclusion

Aromatherapy with Citrus aurantium essential can be effective in reducing mild to moderate pain after orthopedic surgery. Further studies are recommended to confirm this finding.

Subcutaneous Drugs and Off-label Use in Hospice and Palliative Care: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Subcutaneous drug administration is an interesting approach for symptom control in hospice and palliative care. However, most drugs have no marketing authorization for subcutaneous administration and are therefore used off-label. In order to meet the requirements of a safe and effective drug therapy, especially in highly vulnerable patients, it is essential to investigate the scope of evidence of these common practices.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this scoping review was to provide an overview of available data on the tolerability and/or effectiveness of subcutaneously administered and off-label used drugs.

METHOD

We performed a scoping review according to the PRISMA extension to identify data available on the tolerability and/or effectiveness of 17 predefined drugs that are commonly administered subcutaneously in Swiss hospices and hospice-like institutions and that have no marketing authorization (off-label use).

RESULTS

The scoping review identified 57 studies with most data available on their tolerability (68% local, 54% systemic), clinical effects (82%), details on dosage (96%) and routes of application (100%). Information on pharmacokinetic properties was mostly missing and only available for fentanyl, levetiracetam, midazolam, and ondansetron. For seven drugs, less than five articles were identified and no studies on codeine or clonazepam were available.

CONCLUSION

This work provides an overview of current evidence on subcutaneous and off-label used drugs in hospice and palliative care. Although both are common practices, evidence on tolerability and effectiveness, particularly pharmacokinetic data, is limited and the identified information gaps need to be closed. This work establishes a basis for further research in this area.

Stability of tramadol with three 5-HT3 receptor antagonists in polyolefin bags for patient-controlled delivery systems

Background

Mixing 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 (5-HT₃) receptor antagonists with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) solutions of tramadol has been shown to decrease the incidence of nausea and vomiting associated with the use of tramadol PCA for postoperative pain. However, such mixtures are not commercially available, and the stability of the drug combinations has not been duly studied. The study aimed to evaluate the stability of tramadol with three 5-HT₃ receptor antagonists in 0.9% sodium chloride injection for PCA administration.

Materials and methods

Test samples were prepared by adding 1,000 mg tramadol hydrochloride, 8 mg ondansetron hydrochloride, and 6 mg granisetron hydrochloride or 5 mg tropisetron hydrochloride to 100 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride injection in polyolefin bags. The samples were prepared in triplicates, stored at either 25°C or 4°C for 14 days, and assessed using the following compatibility parameters: precipitation, cloudiness, discoloration, and pH. Chemical stability was also determined using a validated high-pressure liquid chromatography method.

Results

All of the mixtures were clear and colorless throughout the initial observation period. No change in the concentration of tramadol hydrochloride occurred with any of the 5-HT₃ receptor antagonists during the 14 days. Similarly, little or no loss of the 5-HT₃ receptor antagonists occurred over the 14-day period.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that mixtures of tramadol hydrochloride, ondansetron hydrochloride, granisetron hydrochloride, or tropisetron hydrochloride in 0.9% sodium chloride injection were physically and chemically stable for 14 days when stored in polyolefin bags at both 4°C and 25°C.

Evaluation of the Effect of Reflexology on Pain Control and Analgesic Consumption After Appendectomy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Appendicitis is the most common cause of severe abdominal pain in the world, and the associated postsurgical pain, as occurs with other surgical procedures, is one of the most common problems. Today, there is a growing tendency toward nondrug methods and alternative medicine to reduce the adverse effects of drugs. Reflexology involves applying pressure on certain areas of the palms, feet, and ears in order to reduce stress and pain in certain areas of the body. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of reflexology massage on pain relief after appendectomy.

METHODS

This clinical trial was conducted at the surgical emergency unit of Imam Reza Hospital of Mashhad, Iran, in 2013. Pain intensity and analgesic consumption were compared between 105 patients before and immediately, 1 hour, 6 hours, and 24 hours after the intervention in three groups of intervention, control, and placebo. Patients in all three groups received analgesics, as required. The experimental group received pressure on a defined area of the right foot for about 10 minutes and the Shen Men point of the ear for 1 minute. This pressure in the placebo group was applied on the left foot and the left earlobe. Patients in the control group received routine care only. The results were evaluated at a 95% confidence level, and data were analyzed using SPSS software version 12 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL).

RESULTS

At the beginning of the study, the mean pain intensity in different groups according to analysis of variance was not significantly different (p = 0.439); however, there was a notable difference in pain intensity between the intervention and other groups after reflexology therapy. In addition, methadone consumption was significantly lower in the reflexology group than in the other two groups (p ≤ 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Reflexology is effective for reducing pain after appendectomy surgery.

Long-Term Stability of Tramadol and Ketamine Solutions for Patient-Controlled Analgesia Delivery

Background

Subanesthetic doses of ketamine as an adjuvant to tramadol in patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for postoperative pain have been shown to improve the quality of analgesia. However, there are no such commercially available drug mixtures, and the stability of the combination has rarely been assessed.

Material/Methods

Admixtures were assessed for periods of up to 14 days at 4°C and 25°C. Three different mixtures of tramadol and ketamine (tramadol 5.0 mg/mL + ketamine 0.5 mg/mL, tramadol 5.0 mg/mL + ketamine 1.0 mg/mL, and tramadol 5.0 mg/mL + ketamine 2.0 mg/mL) were prepared in polyolefin bags by combining these 2 drugs with 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline [NS]). The chemical stability of the admixtures was evaluated by a validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method and by measurement of pH values. Solution appearance and color were assessed by observing the samples against black and white backgrounds. Solutions were considered stable if they maintained 90% of the initial concentration of each drug.

Results

The percentages of initial concentration of tramadol and ketamine in the various solutions remained above 98% when stored at 4°C or 25°C over the testing period. No changes in color or turbidity were observed in any of the prepared solutions. Throughout this period, pH values remained stable.

Conclusions

The results indicate that the drug mixtures of tramadol with ketamine in NS for PCA delivery systems were stable for 14 days when stored in polyolefin bags at 4°C or 25°C.