title: Morphine-induced hallucinations - resolution with switching to oxycodone: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Palliation of pain with morphine in cancer patients can be complicated by adverse effects. Tolerance to these effects such as nausea and drowsiness usually occurs within a few days allowing continuation of morphine therapy. However, some patients may develop intolerable adverse effects even after several months on morphine when the dose is increased. A case of morphine-induced hallucinations in a cancer patient who had been on a subcutaneous infusion of diamorphine for several months is discussed. A switch to oxycodone resolved his hallucinations and gave him a new lease of life. The theories behind and evidence for opioid-switching is discussed along with strategies for dealing with intolerable opioid-induced adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative Medicine, St Michael's Hospice, 25 Upper Maze Hill, St Leonard's-on-Sea, East Sussex TN38 0LB, UK.
authors.forename: Mursheda Mahbub
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Board