Comparison of the effects of preoperative melatonin or vitamin C administration on postoperative analgesia.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effect of a single preoperative dose of oral melatonin on postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery.
Results Summary
The study found that preoperative oral administration of 6 mg melatonin significantly reduced pain scores, total morphine consumption, supplemental analgesic requirement, and the incidence of nausea and vomiting compared to placebo. No significant differences were observed between melatonin and vitamin C groups in pain scores or morphine consumption.
Population
165 adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery under general anesthesia.
Effective Dosage
6 mg melatonin, single dose administered one hour before surgery.
Duration
Single dose, effects monitored for 24 hours post-surgery.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
preoperative oral administration of 6 mg melatonin | decrease | pain scores | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | led to a reduction | #1 |
preoperative oral administration of 6 mg melatonin | decrease | total morphine consumption | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | led to a reduction | #2 |
preoperative oral administration of 6 mg melatonin | decrease | supplemental analgesic requirement | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | led to a reduction | #3 |
preoperative oral administration of 6 mg melatonin | decrease | incidence of nausea and vomiting | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | led to a reduction | #4 |
preoperative oral administration of 2 g vitamin C | decrease | pain scores | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | led to a reduction | #5 |
preoperative oral administration of 2 g vitamin C | decrease | total morphine consumption | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | led to a reduction | #6 |
preoperative oral administration of 2 g vitamin C | decrease | supplemental analgesic requirement | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | led to a reduction | #7 |
preoperative oral administration of 2 g vitamin C | decrease | incidence of nausea and vomiting | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | led to a reduction | #8 |
preoperative oral administration of 6 mg melatonin | decrease | mean pain score | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | were found significantly lower | #9 |
preoperative oral administration of 6 mg melatonin | decrease | total morphine consumption | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | were found significantly lower | #10 |
preoperative oral administration of 2 g vitamin C | decrease | mean pain score | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | were found significantly lower | #11 |
preoperative oral administration of 2 g vitamin C | decrease | total morphine consumption | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | were found significantly lower | #12 |
preoperative oral administration of 6 mg melatonin | decrease | supplemental analgesic | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | requested less | #13 |
preoperative oral administration of 6 mg melatonin | decrease | nausea and vomiting | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | experienced less | #14 |
preoperative oral administration of 2 g vitamin C | decrease | supplemental analgesic | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | requested less | #15 |
preoperative oral administration of 2 g vitamin C | decrease | nausea and vomiting | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | experienced less | #16 |
preoperative oral administration of 6 mg melatonin | no change | pain scores | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | no significant differences | #17 |
preoperative oral administration of 6 mg melatonin | no change | total morphine consumption | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | no significant differences | #18 |
preoperative oral administration of 2 g vitamin C | no change | pain scores | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | no significant differences | #19 |
preoperative oral administration of 2 g vitamin C | no change | total morphine consumption | adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery | - | no significant differences | #20 |
The analgesic benefit of melatonin and vitamin C as primary or adjuvant agents has been reported in various studies; however, their analgesic effects in the treatment of postoperative pain remain unclear. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the effect of single preoperative dose of oral melatonin or vitamin C administration on postoperative analgesia. In this study, we recruited 165 adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. Patients were randomly divided into three equal (n = 55) groups. One hour before surgery, patients received orally melatonin (6 mg) in group M, vitamin C (2 g) in group C, or a placebo tablet in group P. Pain, sedation, patient satisfaction, total morphine consumption from a patient-controlled analgesia device, supplemental analgesic requirement, and the incidence of nausea and vomiting were recorded throughout 24 h after surgery. The mean pain score and total morphine consumption were found significantly lower in both M and C groups compared with group P (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between group M and C with respect to pain scores (p = 0.117) and total morphine consumption (p = 0.090). Patients requested less supplemental analgesic and experienced less nausea and vomiting in groups M and C compared with group P. In conclusion, preoperative oral administration of 6 mg melatonin or 2 g vitamin C led to a reduction in pain scores, total morphine consumption, supplemental analgesic requirement, and the incidence of nausea and vomiting compared with placebo.