Narcotic Analgesics For Surgery and Obstetrics (Systemic)

Category

• Analgesic
• Anesthesia adjunct
• Anesthesia adjunct, opioid analgesic

Description

Narcotic analgesics (nar-KOT-ik an-al-JEE-zicks) are given to relieve pain before and during surgery (including dental surgery) or during labor and delivery. These medicines may also be given before or together with an anesthetic (either a general anesthetic or a local anesthetic), even when the patient is not in pain, to help the anesthetic work better.

When a narcotic analgesic is used for surgery or obstetrics (labor and delivery), it will be given by or under the immediate supervision of a medical doctor or dentist, or by a specially trained nurse, in the doctor's office or in a hospital.

The following information applies only to these special uses of narcotic analgesics. If you are taking or receiving a narcotic analgesic to relieve pain after surgery, or for any other reason, ask your health care professional for additional information about the medicine and its use.

These medicines are available in the following dosage forms:

Parenteral
• Alfentanil
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Buprenorphine
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Butorphanol
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Fentanyl
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Meperidine
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Morphine
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Nalbuphine
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Remifentanil
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Sufentanil
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S. -

• Alfenta ¹
• Astramorph ⁶
• Astramorph PF ⁶
• Buprenex ²
• Demerol ⁵
• Duramorph ⁶
• Nubain ⁷
• Stadol ³
• Sublimaze ⁴
• Sufenta ⁹
• Ultiva ⁸

In Canada -

• Alfenta ¹
• Demerol ⁵
• Epimorph ⁶
• Nubain ⁷
• Stadol ³
• Sufenta ⁹
• Ultiva ⁸

Another commonly used name for meperidine is pethidine .