Buprenorphine in long-term control of chronic pain in cancer patients.
The aim of this randomized open-label prospective study was to evaluate the analgesic activity of buprenorphine in a transdermal formulation for cancer chronic pain control versus sustained-release morphine, in all cases combined with oral tramadol. A transdermal system with 35 microg/h buprenorphine was applied to the first group of patients (BT); the second group received 60 mg/day of sustained-release morphine (MT). In both groups oral tramadol was administered to a maximum of 200 mg daily, in case of need. The administration of transdermal buprenorphine versus morphine resulted in significant differences in the physical pain (P = 0.01), mental health (P = 0.03) and vitality (P = 0.001). These data indicated that the BT group showed an improvement of pain and a positive effect on the quality life.
Pace
Maria Caterina
MC
Department of Anesthesiology, Surgical and Emergency Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Passavanti
Maria Beatrice
MB
Grella
Elisa
E
Mazzariello
Luigi
L
Maisto
Massimo
M
Barbarisi
Manlio
M
Baccari
Ena
E
Sansone
Pasquale
P
Aurilio
Caterina
C
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D014147:Tramadol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D014147:Tramadol; D002047:Buprenorphine; D009020:Morphine