Skip to content

Acetaminophen IV vs Hydromorphone IV in the ED

Acetaminophen 1g IV vs Hydromorphone 1mg IV for the Treatment of Acute Pain in the Emergency Department

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03107481
Enrollment
220
Registered
2017-04-11
Start date
2017-06-04
Completion date
2017-11-14
Last updated
2017-11-17

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Pain, Acute

Keywords

Acetaminophen, Hydromorphone, Emergency Department, Narcotics, Analgesics, Opioid, Analgesics, Non-Narcotic

Brief summary

The purpose of the current study is to compare the analgesic efficacy of intravenous acetaminophen and intravenous hydromorphone in the treatment of acute pain in the ED.

Detailed description

This is a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial comparing intravenous acetaminophen and intravenous hydromorphone in the treatment of acute pain in the Emergency Department. Enrolled subjects presenting to the ED with acute pain will be randomized to receive either acetaminophen 1g IV or hydromorphone 1mg IV.

Interventions

DRUGAcetaminophen

Acetaminophen 1g IV

DRUGHydromorphone

Hydromorphone 1mg IV

Sponsors

Montefiore Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to 64 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Age 21 through 64 years of age: This is a study of adult ED patients. * Pain with onset within 7 days: Pain within seven days is the definition of acute pain that has been used in the ED literature. * ED attending physician's judgment that the patient's pain warrants IV opioids. * ED attending physician's judgment that the patient has capacity to provide informed consent. * Patients must be able to understand English or Spanish.

Exclusion criteria

* Use of opioids or tramadol within past 24 hours. * Use of acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication within the previous 8 hours. * Prior adverse reaction to opioids or acetaminophen. * Chronic pain syndrome: frequently recurrent or daily pain for at least 3 months results in modulation of pain perception which is thought to be due to down-regulation of pain receptors. Examples of chronic pain syndromes include sickle cell anemia, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and peripheral neuropathies. * Medical condition that might affect metabolism or opioid analgesics or acetaminophen such as hepatitis, renal insufficiency or failure, hypo- or hyper-thyroidism, Addison's or Cushing's disease * Pregnant or breastfeeding * Alcohol intoxication: the presence of alcohol intoxication as judged by the treating physician may alter pain perception. * SBP \<100 mmHg: Opioids can produce peripheral vasodilation that may result in orthostatic hypotension. * HR \< 60/min: Opioids can cause bradycardia. * Oxygen saturation \< 95% on room air: For this study, oxygen saturation must be 95% or above on room air in order to be enrolled. * Use of MAO inhibitors in past 30 days: MAO inhibitors have been reported to intensify the effects of at least one opioid drug causing anxiety, confusion and significant respiratory depression or coma. * Patients using transdermal pain patches: pain patches may influence both the amount of pain patients report as well as the level of relief they obtain from other treatments. * Taking any medication that might interact with one of the study medications, such as SSRI or tricyclic anti-depressants, antipsychotics, anti-malarial medications (quinidine or halofantrine), amiodarone or dronedarone, diphenhydramine, celecoxib, ranitidine, cimetidine, ritanovir, terbinafine or St. John's Wort. * Patients who have been previously enrolled in this same study: Patients may only be enrolled once.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
NRS Change at 60 minutes60 minutesBetween group difference in change in NRS pain scores from baseline

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Forego Additional Pain Medication60 minutesDifference in proportion of patients who choose to forego additional pain medication
Receive Rescue MedicationBefore 60 minutesDifference in proportion of patients who receive additional pain medication before primary outcome
Experience Medication Side Effects120 MinutesDifference in proportion of patients who experience medication side effects grouped by GI (vomiting, nausea), dermatologic (pruritis, rash), and CNS (dizziness, drowsiness) categories.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026