Analgesia in the acute abdomen.

In a prospective sequential double blind trial 288 patients with acute abdominal pain were given sublingual buprenorphine 200 mcg, sublingual buprenorphine 400 mcg, or placebo. Pain relief was proportional to the number of tablets administered; buprenorphine had no difference in effect compared to placebo. Physical signs altered in proportion to dosage, but this had no effect on clinical diagnosis. We conclude that patients with acute abdominal pain may be given buprenorphine without fear of masking the diagnosis.