Table 3.
Therapeutic Use
| Medication Group | No. of Studies | Used Medication From Groupa | Administration Medicationa | Compared to a | Therapeutic Effectivenessa, b |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5HT-3 Antagonist | 5 | Ondansetron: 5 | Intravenous: 5 | Control: 3 Medication: 2 |
Superior: 2 (n.a.0) Specifications: vs con/vs med: 2/0 IV: 2 |
| Opioid antagonist | 3 | Naloxone: 3 | Intravenous: 3 | Control: 0 Medication: 3 |
Superior: 0 (n.a. 0) |
| Opioid agonist/antagonists | 6 | Nalbuphine: 5 Pentazocine: 1 |
Intravenous: 6 | Control: 1 Medication: 5 |
Superior: 5 (n.a. 0) Specifications: vs con/vs med: 1/4 IV: 5 |
| Antihistamines | 3 | Diphenhydramine: 2 Cimetidine: 1 |
Intravenous: 3 | Control: 1 Medication: 2 |
Superior: 0 (n.a. 0) |
| Propofol | 5 | Propofol: 5 | Intravenous: 5 | Control: 3 Medication: 2 |
Superior: 1(n.a. 0) Specifications: vs con/vs med: 1/0 IV: 1 |
Notes: a Studies that fall in multiple categories are mentioned multiple times, ie for studies comparing the same medication with different administration, or studies comparing two medicaments of the same group. b Overview and specifications of studies showing effectiveness. Overview of study results assessing the therapeutic effectiveness of study medication administered after the occurrence of pruritus. Values are presented as n=number of studies.
Abbreviations: vs con, comparison between study medication and control (placebo or nothing); vs med, comparison between two different study medications; IV, intravenous; n.a, not available.