Rapid and safe withdrawal of intravenous papaveretum after prolonged continuous infusion.

A case is reported in which papaveretum was administered to a patient by continuous intravenous infusion for 60 days. Complete and rapid withdrawal of the narcotic analgesic at the end of that period, despite a massive established daily requirement, was relatively simple and apparently safe. Aspects of narcotic analgesic dependence as they pertain to the case are discussed and the prolonged administration of intravenous opiates with greater confidence by clinicians involved in the intensive therapy of similar patients is suggested.