title: Plasma morphine and morphine-6-glucuronide patterns in cancer patients after oral, subcutaneous, sublabial and rectal short-term administration.
abstract: Clinical studies on the effectiveness of morphine administered through different routes are contradictory. In order to further elucidate this point, the plasma concentrations of morphine and its 3- and 6-glucuronated metabolites were measured after short-term oral, sublabial, rectal and subcutaneous administration of the opiate. The bioavailability of free morphine and the 6-glucuronated active metabolite was comparable through the different routes. It was concluded that the choice of the route of morphine administration should be mainly guided by the needs of each individual patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Breda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ripamonti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zecca
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ventafridda
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Panerai
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009022:Morphine Derivatives / Q000097:blood*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D009022:Morphine Derivatives; C035349:morphine-6-glucuronide; D009020:Morphine