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Preliminary experience with the use of a new once-daily prolonged-release oral morphine capsules* in cancer patients with pain
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Abstract
Material and methods. Seventeen patients participated who were treated with capsules containing 20,
40 and 60 mg of the drug. The former treatment comprised morphine (8 patients): controlled-release (5),
immediate-release (one), subcutaneous and the study drug (akin 1 patient), transdermal fentanyl (3), tramadol
(2), non-opioid analgesics (3) and combination of transdermal buprenorphine with immediate-release
morphine in one patient. Analgesia was assessed by NRS (Numerical Rating Scale: 0 — no pain, 10 — the
most severe pain); the result 1–3 was assessed as good, 4–5 as satisfactory, over 5 as unsatisfactory. Adverse
effects were assessed by verbal scale: 0 — none; 1 — mild; 2 — moderate; 3 — severe.
Results. Treatment lasted 7–161 (mean 50.47 ± 40.51) days; the daily dose range was 20–180 mg. Eleven
patients (65%) assessed analgesia as good, 5 patients (30%) as partial, one patient (5%) had unsatisfactory
analgesic effect. Adverse effects observed were as follows: constipation in 9 patients, drowsiness in two
patients, nausea and vomiting in 2 patients, nausea alone in one patient, dry mouth in one patient.
Conclusions. This preliminary study demonstrated high analgesic efficacy of prolonged-release once-daily
morphine capsules in the dose range 20–180 mg in cancer patients with pain requiring strong opioid analgesics
administration. The treatment was well tolerated with no serious adverse effects observed.
Adv. Pall. Med. 2011; 10, 1: 23–28
Abstract
Material and methods. Seventeen patients participated who were treated with capsules containing 20,
40 and 60 mg of the drug. The former treatment comprised morphine (8 patients): controlled-release (5),
immediate-release (one), subcutaneous and the study drug (akin 1 patient), transdermal fentanyl (3), tramadol
(2), non-opioid analgesics (3) and combination of transdermal buprenorphine with immediate-release
morphine in one patient. Analgesia was assessed by NRS (Numerical Rating Scale: 0 — no pain, 10 — the
most severe pain); the result 1–3 was assessed as good, 4–5 as satisfactory, over 5 as unsatisfactory. Adverse
effects were assessed by verbal scale: 0 — none; 1 — mild; 2 — moderate; 3 — severe.
Results. Treatment lasted 7–161 (mean 50.47 ± 40.51) days; the daily dose range was 20–180 mg. Eleven
patients (65%) assessed analgesia as good, 5 patients (30%) as partial, one patient (5%) had unsatisfactory
analgesic effect. Adverse effects observed were as follows: constipation in 9 patients, drowsiness in two
patients, nausea and vomiting in 2 patients, nausea alone in one patient, dry mouth in one patient.
Conclusions. This preliminary study demonstrated high analgesic efficacy of prolonged-release once-daily
morphine capsules in the dose range 20–180 mg in cancer patients with pain requiring strong opioid analgesics
administration. The treatment was well tolerated with no serious adverse effects observed.
Adv. Pall. Med. 2011; 10, 1: 23–28
Keywords
pain; adverse effects; analgesic efficacy; morphine; opioids
About this articleTitle
Preliminary experience with the use of a new once-daily prolonged-release oral morphine capsules* in cancer patients with pain
Journal
Advances in Palliative Medicine
Issue
Pages
23-28
Published online
2011-04-26
Page views
524
Article views/downloads
1194
Bibliographic record
Advances in Palliative Medicine 2011;10(1):23-28.
Keywords
pain
adverse effects
analgesic efficacy
morphine
opioids
Authors
Wojciech Leppert
Radosław Lepka
Michał Chojnicki