Pharmacokinetics of a Single-Dose IV Morphine in Normal Volunteers and Patients with End-Stage Renal Failure

Abstract

Comment: This paper, confirmed by similar results from other works, shows the different handling of morphine in this group of patients. Perhaps the most significant message is that drug elimination is the end result of a number of other processes, several of which may be altered in renal failure patients. It must always be remembered that clinical effects may not correlate well with pharmacokinetic studies. As yet, there do not appear to be results that ojbectively confirm the clinical studies suggesting enhanced sensitivity to opiates or increased duration of effect. Nonetheless, repeated morphine administration in particular should still be regarded with some caution in renal failure patients.