1. A comparison of metoprolol and morphine in the treatment of chest pain in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction--the MEMO study.
- Author
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Everts B, Karlson B, Abdon NJ, Herlitz J, and Hedner T
- Subjects
- Aged, Angina Pectoris etiology, Diagnosis, Differential, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Myocardial Infarction diagnosis, Myocardial Infarction mortality, Pain Measurement, Time Factors, Treatment Outcome, Adrenergic beta-Antagonists therapeutic use, Analgesics, Opioid therapeutic use, Angina Pectoris drug therapy, Metoprolol therapeutic use, Morphine therapeutic use, Myocardial Infarction complications
- Abstract
Objectives: To compare the analgesic effect of metoprolol and morphine in patients with chest pain due to suspected or definite acute myocardial infarction after initial treatment with intravenous metoprolol., Design: All patients, regardless of age, admitted to the coronary care unit at Uddevalla Central Hospital due to suspected acute myocardial infarction were evaluated for inclusion in the MEMO study (metoprolol-morphine). The effects on chest pain and side-effects of the two treatments were followed during 24 h. Pain was assessed by a numerical rating scale., Results: A total of 265 patients were randomized in this prospective double-blind study and 59% developed a confirmed acute myocardial infarction. In both treatment groups, there were rapid reductions of pain intensity. However, in the patient group treated with morphine, there was a more pronounced pain relief during the first 80 min after start of double-blind treatment. The side-effects were few and were those expected from each therapeutic regimen. During the first 24 h, nausea requiring anti-emetics was more common in the morphine-treated patients., Conclusion: In suspected acute myocardial infarction, if chest pain persists after intravenous beta-adrenergic blockade treatment, standard doses of an opioid analgesic such as morphine will offer better pain relief than increased dosages of metoprolol.
- Published
- 1999
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