A long-term survey of morphine in cancer pain patients.
We surveyed 550 cancer patients who experienced pain and were treated with morphine for a total of 22,525 treatment days. Sufficient pain relief was achieved during more than 80% of this time using an average oral morphine dose of 82.4 mg--significantly lower than other studies. The use of this low dose, which was possible due to the concomitant administration of nonopioids and specific coanalgesics in most patients, resulted in a low incidence of side effects. Constipation and nausea/vomiting were the most common of these side effects. Physical dependence posed no practical problem in discontinuation of morphine treatment. Long-term opioid intake and development of tolerance did not appear to be linked; an increase in morphine dosage was most often explained by progression of the terminal disease. Addiction was a negligible problem, with only one observed case.
Schug
S A
SA
Zech
D
D
Grond
S
S
Jung
H
H
Meuser
T
T
Stobbe
B
B
D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009021:Morphine Dependence / Q000517:prevention & control; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000700:Analgesics; D009020:Morphine