title: The use of fentanyl buccal tablets for breakthrough pain by using doses proportional to opioid basal regimen in a home care setting.
abstract: The dose of rapid onset opioids to be given for breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) is controversial. Dose proportional to the basal opioid regimen seem to be safe and effective in hospital units. However, data in other less protected settings, like home care, are lacking. The aim of this open-label study was to assess the efficacy and safety in a group of patients with BTcP followed at home, after giving a dose of fentanyl buccal tablets (FBT) proportional to the opioid basal regimen, skipping the steps for dose titration. Consecutive patients admitted to a home care program presenting BTcP episodes and receiving stable doses of opioids for background pain were selected. Data from four consecutive episodes of BTcP were collected. For each episode, patients were instructed to routinely collect changes in pain intensity and severe adverse effects when pain got severe (T0) and to reassess the same items 15 min after FBT, given as a rescue medication in doses proportional to the daily opioid doses used for background pain (T15). One hundred twenty episodes of BTcP were recorded in 30 patients. One hundred eight episodes were defined as successfully treated, while 12 episodes required a further administration of opioids. Pain intensity significantly decreased at T15 (p < 0.001). In 95.5 and 90.8 % of episodes treated, there was a reduction in pain intensity of more than 33 and 50 %, respectively. No relevant adverse effects were recorded, even in older patients. This study suggests that FBT given in doses proportional to the basal opioid regimen for the management of BTcP is very effective and safe in clinical practice in the home care setting.
authors.affiliation: Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit & Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Via S.Lorenzo 312, 90145, Palermo, Italy. terapiadeldolore@lamaddalenanet.it
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mercadante
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Porzio
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aielli
authors.forename: Lucilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Averna
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ficorella
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casuccio
mesh_terms: D000278:Administration, Buccal; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059390:Breakthrough Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D010147:Pain Measurement; D013607:Tablets; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D013607:Tablets; D005283:Fentanyl
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