A Dose Ranging Study of Dexamethasone for Preventing Patient-Controlled Analgesia-Related Nausea and Vomiting: A Comparison of Droperidol with Saline

Abstract

Morphine administration by patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) is often associated nausea and vomiting. In this double-blind study, the minimum effective dose of dexamethasone for reducing this complication was 8 mg. This was as effective as adding droperidol 0.1 mg/mL to the morphine PCA without causing drowsiness, restlessness or arrhythmias.