title: A long-term survey of morphine in cancer pain patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Schug
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zech
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grond
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meuser
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stobbe
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D009020:Morphine