Why is diamorphine used in labour?

Diamorphine helps to relieve pain and make you feel more relaxed , and may have fewer side-effects than similar drugs, such as pethidine . However, diamorphine can make your labour longer.

Does diamorphine work in labour?

Injections – diamorphine This is an opioid injection with similar actions and side effects to pethidine, taking 30 minutes to work. Diamorphine has been shown to be a little better for pain relief in labour than pethidine and many women are more satisfied with diamorphine.

What’s better pethidine or diamorphine?

Wee et al. have conducted a blinded randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing intramuscular diamorphine with intramuscular pethidine for labour analgesia. They report that diamorphine provides (very) slightly better analgesia with perhaps slightly better maternal satisfaction and less vomiting.

What are the advantages of diamorphine?

Diamorphine is used for the relief of severe pain associated with surgical procedures, heart attack and pain in terminally ill patients. It is also used to treat breathlessness caused by fluid in the lungs.

How does diamorphine feel?

You usually have diamorphine as an injection into the fatty tissue just under the skin. This might be in your thigh, stomach or upper arm. You might have stinging or a dull ache for a short time after this injection but they don’t usually hurt much. The skin in the area may go red and itchy for a while.

What is the name of the medicine used to stop contractions?

Doctors may try to stop or delay preterm labor by administering a medication called terbutaline (Brethine). Terbutaline is in a class of drugs called betamimetics. They help prevent and slow contractions of the uterus. It may help delay birth for several hours or days.

Is diamorphine used at end of life?

Diamorphine is primarily a strong analgesic. It is a cough suppressant and in the absence of pain a respiratory sedative. This side effect can be utilised to relieve distressing breathlessness at the end of life.