Controlled comparison of the efficacy of fourteen preparations in the relief of postoperative pain.

Thirteen analgesic drugs, four of them at two dose levels, four analgesics in combination with antagonist or neuroleptic agents, and saline have been evaluated simultaneously in the relief of postoperative pain. The method of assessment was designed to favour drugs which provided freedom from pain with minimum depression of consciousness. Only levorphanol 2 mg proved significantly superior to pethidine 100 mg, which was used as the standard reference drug. Oxycodone 10 mg, pentazocine 20 mg, and the morphine 10 mg and cyclizine 50 mg combination were the most successful of the remaining drugs. None of the drug combinations was significantly better than the analgesic drug given alone.