Accelerated titration of morphine for rapid relief of cancer pain.
OBJECTIVE
To reduce the time taken to achieve relief when a strong narcotic is indicated for the control of cancer pain.


METHODS
A method of accelerated titration of morphine dosage is described. The time taken to achieve good pain control in 50 consecutive terminally ill cancer patients was recorded.


RESULTS
The average time to taken to control pain was 26 hours for patients being cared for at home, and 6 hours for hospice inpatients.


CONCLUSIONS
Rapid pain control with morphine can be achieved safely within hours in most cancer patients with morphine responsive pain.
Te Omanga Hospice, Lower Hutt.
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Lichter
D000368:Aged; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D017051:Hospice Care; D006801:Humans; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013727:Terminal Care
D009020:Morphine