title: The efficacy and safety of oral immediate-release oxymorphone for postsurgical pain.
abstract: In this double-blind, parallel-group study, we compared 3 oxymorphone immediate-release (IR) doses with placebo for efficacy and with oxycodone IR and placebo for safety in patients with acute moderate-to-severe postsurgical pain. During the single-dose phase (n = 300), patients received oxymorphone IR 10, 20, or 30 mg; oxycodone IR 10 mg; or placebo. All oxymorphone IR doses were superior for providing pain relief for 8 h (P < 0.05), with a significant analgesic dose response (P < 0.001). Significant pain intensity differences occurred by 45 min (20- and 30-mg doses; P < 0.05). Discontinuations for lack of efficacy totaled 42% among placebo-treated patients and 27% among those treated with oxymorphone IR. Patients requiring rescue medication after 3 h were allowed to receive additional study drug every 4 to 6 h as needed for the multiple-dose phase (n = 164). All oxymorphone groups maintained analgesia for 48 h. The median dosing interval was >9.5 h for oxymorphone IR 30 mg and > or =7 h for the other groups. Opioid-related adverse events, similar among groups, were generally mild or moderate. Oxymorphone IR 10, 20, or 30 mg provided significant dose-related pain relief compared with placebo, and this relief was maintained over several days with a safety profile comparable to that of oxycodone IR.
authors.affiliation: *Arizona Research Center, Phoenix, Arizona; and †Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gimbel
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahdieh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010098:Oxycodone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010111:Oxymorphone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D010111:Oxymorphone; D010098:Oxycodone