title: Efficacy and safety of transdermal fentanyl for treatment of oral mucositis pain caused by chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the efficacy and safety of transdermal fentanyl for severe mucositis pain caused by chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients who had moderate to severe pain using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) were enrolled in this study. The analgesic effect, quality of life and side effects were evaluated after the administration of transdermal fentanyl.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median NRS score was reduced from 6 (range 4 - 9) before treatment to 4 (range 0 - 9), 2.5 (range 0 - 8), 2 (range 0 - 8), 2 (range 0 - 6) and 0 (range 0 - 5) on days 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15, respectively, after treatment (p < 0.001). The patients' quality of life also improved significantly (p < 0.01). The side effects of treatment were mild, and disappeared within several days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transdermal fentanyl is an effective, convenient and well-tolerated treatment for severe mucositis pain caused by chemotherapy that can improve patients' quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University, Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Department of Medical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, 651 E. Dongfeng Road, Guangzhou, 510060, PR China.
authors.forename: Qingqing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Huiqiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiaofei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Zhongjun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Yuhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xubin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009067:Mouthwashes; D005283:Fentanyl