title: High doses of oxycodone-naloxone combination may provide poor analgesia.
abstract: Several studies have shown that an oxycodone/naloxone combination (ratio 2:1) provides analgesia and less constipation in non-cancer patients receiving relatively low doses of this formulation. A case report of a cancer patient who was receiving increasing doses of oxycodone with an unexpected declining analgesia is presented. The substitution with the same doses (240 mg/day) of regular controlled-release oxycodone was effective in regaining adequate analgesia.
authors.affiliation: Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Via San Lorenzo 312, 90146, Palermo, Italy. terapiadeldolore@lamaddalenanet.it
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mercadante
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrera
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adile
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003248:Constipation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D009270:Naloxone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010098:Oxycodone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; C557247:oxycodone naloxone combination; D009270:Naloxone; D010098:Oxycodone