Pethidine 100mg/2ml / Promethazine 50mg/2ml solution for injection ampoules

BACKGROUND: The main characteristics present in patients with psychomotor agitation include restlessness, excessive motor activity, irritability, and heightened responsiveness to internal and external stimuli. This umbrella review evaluates the efficacy and safety of pharmacological interventions for patients with psychiatric disorders presenting psychomotor agitation, aged 18 years or older. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify umbrella reviews that met our study's inclusion criteria. However, no reviews were found that specifically investigated the efficacy and safety of pharmacological interventions for agitated psychiatric patients presenting with both behavioral and psychological symptoms, such as emotional lability, decreased attention span, and cognitive and behavioral alterations. The primary objective is to assess the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions in controlling patients within a short time frame, measured in hours rather than days. The focus was placed on studies addressing treatment in emergency settings, whether in general hospitals or psychiatric facilities, with an emphasis on managing acute psychomotor agitation rather than long-term maintenance treatment. METHOD: A comprehensive literature search for meta-analyses and systematic reviews assessing the efficacy and safety of pharmacological treatment for psychomotor agitation in psychiatric inpatients and emergency department patients was conducted across various databases such as PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science and COCHRANE Central database. Included reviews comprised those that incorporated randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or non-randomized controlled trials (NRCTs) comparing the efficacy and safety of pharmacological interventions for agitated psychiatric patients (with both psychological and behavioral symptoms). RESULTS: Loxapine (10 mg) demonstrated superior efficacy over 5 mg in reducing agitation within 120 min, with inhaled formulations providing rapid relief in patients with acute psychosis. Aripiprazole was effective and caused less sedation compared to Olanzapine, although Haloperidol required fewer additional doses but was less effective at 60 min. Ziprasidone, administered intramuscularly, offered a faster onset and was better tolerated than Haloperidol. Lorazepam proved effective with fewer side effects than antipsychotics and showed enhanced efficacy when combined with them. Midazolam provided rapid sedation but posed risks of severe side effects, especially in older adults. Droperidol was as effective as Olanzapine but provided faster sedation. Combination therapy, such as Haloperidol with Promethazine, effectively reduced aggression with a lower incidence of adverse effects. CONCLUSION: This umbrella review offers a comprehensive overview of the pharmacological management of psychomotor agitation in patients with psychiatric disorders. Among the most frequently used medications in the reviewed studies were haloperidol, olanzapine, and lorazepam. The findings underscore the importance of tailored treatment approaches and the need for further research to refine the management of psychomotor agitation in psychiatric settings.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Background: The use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to relieve labor pain remains controversial and existing evidence is neither strong nor consistent. This research was designed to compare TENS' effect with the injection of pethidine and promethazine in labor pain reduction. Methods: In this trial, for 45 pregnant women in the active phase of labor, TENS electrodes were placed (two on both arms, and two over the participants' low back) continuously for 120 minutes; and for another group 45 pregnant women, 100 milligrams of pethidine and 250 micrograms of promethazine were injected intramuscularly which could be repeated once at least one hour later. Labor pain and duration, need for labor induction/augmentation/other pain control methods/ instrumental delivery, delivery type, and maternal and newborn complications were measured in both groups. Results: The baseline mean visual analog scale (VAS) score, in the TENS group was 8.51±0.62 and in the pethidine and promethazine groups was 8.37±0.61 (P=0.31). While in a 120min post-intervention, it was 6.29±1.50 and 5.73±1.46 in the TENS group and the pethidine and promethazine group, respectively with no statistically significant difference (P=0.07). The labor duration in the TENS group was 6.61±1.71 hours and in the pethidine and promethazine group was 6.17±2.07 hours, with no statistically significant difference (P=0.33). In addition, no complication was recorded neither in the mothers nor newborns. Conclusion: This study showed that applying TENS in the active labor phase can reduce at least two scores in patient labor pain with no significant complications.

Abstract licence: CC BY

Severe burns induce a catecholamine surge, causing severe damage to the organism and raising the possibility of multisystem organ failure. Few strategies are generally acceptable to reduce catecholamine surge and organ injury post-burn. We have previously shown that histamine can amplify the catecholamine surge. In addition, promethazine, a first-generation histamine H1 receptor antagonist, alleviates catecholamine surge and organ injury after severe burns in rats. However, evidence is lacking on whether promethazine benefits patients after severe burns. Currently, sedation and analgesia (such as midazolam and fentanyl) are commonly required for patients after severe burns. It remains unclear if patients after severe burns derive clinical benefit from histamine H1 receptor antagonists combined with sedation and analgesia. This study investigates the therapeutic effect of promethazine on patients after severe burns. Moreover, we test the therapeutic effect of cetirizine, a second-generation histamine H1 receptor antagonist, combined with sedation and analgesia in rats after severe burns. We find that promethazine-pethidine treatment shows a tendency for a lower level of total bilirubin than midazolam-fentanyl in patients 7-day after severe burn. Our study confirms that cetirizine combined with midazolam and fentanyl reduces catecholamine surge and liver and lung damage after severe burns in rats; the effects are better than midazolam and fentanyl treatment. In summary, for the first time, we suggest that histamine H1 receptor antagonist has the potential clinical value of reducing liver injury in patients after severe burns. In addition, we reveal that cetirizine combined with midazolam and fentanyl may be an ideal strategy for treating severe burns.

Abstract licence: CC BY