title: Efficacy and gastrointestinal tolerability of oral oxycodone/naloxone combination for chronic pain in outpatients with cancer: an observational study.
abstract: Combination opioid agonist/antagonist therapy has been shown to preserve bowel function in patients with chronic cancer pain. This retrospective study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of prolonged-released fixed-dose oxycodone-naloxone (PR OXN) in consecutive outpatients with chronic cancer pain. Of 206 patients prescribed PR OXN (mean age 61.3 ± 12.9 years; 52.9% female), 31.5% were opioid naïve. PR OXN was associated with a significant decrease in pain score measured on a visual analogue scale over 28 days (P < .0001), without adverse effects on bowel function, nor change in laxative use. PR OXN efficacy and tolerability were similar in opioid-naïve and -experienced patients, and among age-stratified subgroups. No severe side effects occurred. In a real-life outpatient setting, PR OXN provided analgesia without bowel dysfunction in patients with chronic cancer pain.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, SSD Terapia Antalgica, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy arturocuomo@libero.it.
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuomo
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, SSD Terapia Antalgica, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, SSD Terapia Antalgica, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, SSD Terapia Antalgica, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Cira Antonietta
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Forte
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, SSD Terapia Antalgica, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Connola
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Fondazione Maugeri IRCCS Veruno (NO), Veruno, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marcassa
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003248:Constipation / Q000139:chemically induced; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009270:Naloxone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010098:Oxycodone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D004338:Drug Combinations; C557247:oxycodone naloxone combination; D009270:Naloxone; D010098:Oxycodone
keywords: advanced cancer pain; chronic cancer pain; combination therapy; opioid-induced constipation; outpatients; oxycodone/naloxone