In a double-blind study of fifty patients that was done to test the
ability of epidural morphine to decrease the discomfort after lumbar
laminectomy, we found that during the first postoperative day the patient's
pain was lessened appreciably but that the total dose of morphine received
postoperatively was not diminished. We used a three-milligram dose of
epidural morphine, and there were no problems with respiratory depression.
The addition of epinephrine to the morphine solution had no beneficial
effect.