A double-blind randomized comparative trial of butorphanol tartrate and morphine sulfate in the treatment of postoperative pain in geriatric patients

The elder population is one that is frequently overlooked or excluded in drug studies. However, although those over 65 years of age constitute approximately 12% of the total population, the take 25% of all prescription medications. The elderly may have many and varied reactions to drugs as compared to a younger population. These differences may be pharmacokinetcs or pharmacodynamic in nature. Unfortunately, the amount of available information concerning pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes due to aging is limited. the pool of knowledge in respect to tolerance or sensitivity to narcotic analgesics in the geriatric patient is also limited. Until now no prospective controlled studies have investigated the subjective and objective response of narcotic analgesics in the elderly. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the analgesic activity and possible side effects of butophanol tartrate in comparison with morphine sulfate, when administered to geriatric postoperative patient experiencing moderate to severe pain.