Dezocine pretreatment prevents myoclonus induced by etomidate: a randomized, double-blinded controlled trial.

The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the effects of dezocine on the incidence and severity of myoclonus induced by etomidate. Patients (108) were randomly assigned to one of two groups to receive either 0.1 mg kg(-1) of dezocine (n = 54; Group D) or saline (n = 54; Group S) intravenously 1 min before 0.3 mg kg(-1) etomidate was given. The occurrence and severity (observational score of 0-3) of myoclonus was assessed for 2 min after administration of etomidate. The incidence and the intensity of myoclonus were significantly lower in Group D (0 %) than in Group S (75.9 %) (P < 0.01), and all patients showed stable cardiovascular profiles. The results suggest that infusion of 0.1 mg kg(-1) dezocine 1 min before etomidate administration is effective for suppressing myoclonus induced by etomidate during induction of general anesthesia without significant side-effects.