TITLE:
Comparison of the Efficacy of Oral Oxycodone and Oral Codeine in the Treatment of Post-Craniotomy Pain—A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial
AUTHORS:
Rui Min Lee, Beatrice C. L. Lim, Chin Ted Chong, Mandy P. P. Lim
KEYWORDS:
Post-Craniotomy Pain, Oxycodone, Codeine
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Anesthesiology,
Vol.10 No.3,
March
18,
2020
ABSTRACT: Background: Post-craniotomy pain has been reported to be moderate to severe. Management of post-craniotomy pain is often inadequate, yet limited by the side effects of opioids. We aim to find out the efficacy of oral oxycodone as compared to oral codeine for the treatment of post-craniotomy pain in our institution. Methods: A randomized, double-blinded controlled trial was used to evaluate the efficacy of oral oxycodone versus oral codeine. 40 patients were randomized to the control group of codeine (n = 20) or the experimental group receiving oxycodone (n = 20) in addition to regular oral paracetamol for both groups of patients. Results: There was no difference in the visual analogue scale scores at 24 hours (2.78 versus 1.85, p = 0.11) or side effects in the oxycodone group compared with the codeine group. Conclusions: Oral oxycodone had similar efficacy as oral codeine in the management of post-craniotomy pain.