title: [Direct low-dose fentanyl patch (2.1mg) introduction for opioid naïve outpatients with cancer pain].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The administration of opioids to outpatients with cancer pain can be difficult because the constant dose modification and treatments of side effects involved are occasionally impossible. Therefore, more effective and safer drugs with better patients compliance are needed to complete a successful opioid introduction. Compared with other opioids, low-dose fentanyl has been suggested to produce milder side effects such as nausea, constipation, and somnolence. Further more, compliance can be improved because the drug is a patch,administered transdermally.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between July 2008 and December 2009, we investigated the safety and analgesic effect of a fentanyl patch (2.1 mg) as a direct opioid introduction for 36 outpatients with cancer pain without titrations of other opioids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Side effects of constipation, nausea, somnolence, and dizziness were observed in 17 (47%), 6 (17%), 4 (11%), and 3 (8%) patients, respectively, and no respiratory suppression was observed. Regarding the analgesic effect, 23 (64%) patients reported improvement on pain scales one week after the initiation of the fentanyl patch.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Opioid introduction to opioid-naÏve outpatients with cancer pain using the low-dose fentanyl patch (2.1 mg) may be effective.
authors.affiliation: Division of Integrated Oncology, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation, Japan.
authors.forename: Akito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hata
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katakami
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nanjo
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaji
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwamori
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mifune
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Orita
authors.forename: Michiyo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukae
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamatani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003248:Constipation / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010045:Outpatients; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D057968:Transdermal Patch; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D005283:Fentanyl