title: Plasma concentrations of fentanyl with subcutaneous infusion in palliative care patients.
abstract: 1. Plasma concentrations of fentanyl were measured by g.c. in 20 patients (median age: 75 years and range: 54-86 years; eight females) in palliative care receiving the drug by continuous s.c. infusion (median rate: 1200 micrograms day-1 and range: 100-5000 micrograms day-1). 2. The infusion rate was significantly related to the duration of therapy (Spearman rho = 0.56, P < 0.05). The total steady-state plasma concentrations of fentanyl ranged between 0.1 and 9 ng ml-1, with a median of 1 ng ml-1. The unbound fraction of fentanyl in the plasma ranged from 17.8 to 44.4%, with a median value of 33.6%. Infusion rates and both total and unbound plasma concentrations of fentanyl were correlated (Spearman rho = 0.92, P < 0.05 in each case). Even with standardization for dosage, there was an eightfold variation in total plasma concentrations and 3.5-fold variation in unbound plasma concentrations of fentanyl. 3. There is considerable inter-patient variability in the pharmacokinetics of fentanyl with s.c. infusion in the palliative care setting, which necessitates careful titration of dosage according to individual clinical response.
authors.affiliation: Tasmanian School of Pharmacy, University of Tasmania, South Australia.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maddocks
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McLean
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010166:Palliative Care
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D005283:Fentanyl