Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

A retrospective study of patients who were prescribed controlled-release oxycodone (CRO) in a period of 3 years (2006-2008) was performed. A total of 212 patients were prescribed at discharge CRO for background analgesia; 129, 43, and 40 patients were prescribed doses of oxycodone of less than 120 mg/day (group L), 120 to 240 mg/day (group M), and more than 240 mg/day (group L), respectively. No differences in gender, primary diagnosis, and pain mechanisms were found, but doses were significantly lower in older patients (P < .0005). At discharge, adverse effects were mild and only a minority of patients were switched to other opioids. This study demonstrated that CRO administered in larger doses was safe and effective, showing versatility and flexibility similar to morphine.

Keywords

oxycodone cancer pain opioids palliative care supportive care adverse effects

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Hanks GW , Conno F. , Cherny N. , et al, Expert Working Group of the Research Network of the European Association for Palliative Care. Morphine and alternative opioids in cancer pain: the EAPC recommendations. Br J Cancer. 2001;84(5):587-593.

Radbruch L. , Grond S. , Zech D. , Bischoff A. High-dose oral morphine in cancer pain management: a report of twelve cases . J Clin Anesth. 1996;8(2):144-150.

Bercovitch M. , Adunsky A. Patterns of high-dose morphine use in a home-care hospice service: should we be afraid of it? Cancer. 2004;101(6):1473-1477.

Bercovitch M. , Waller A. , Adunsky A. High dose morphine use in the hospice setting. A database survey of patient characteristics and effect on life expectancy . Cancer. 1999;86(5):871-877.

Glare P. , Walsh D. Dose-ranging study of oxycodone for chronic pain in advanced cancer. J Clin Oncol. 1993;11(5):973-978.

Reid CM , Martin RM , Sterne JA , Davies AN , Hanks GW Oxycodone for cancer-related pain:meta-analysis of randomized controlled trias . Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(8):837-843.

Bercovitch M. , Adunsky A. High dose controlled-release oxycodone in hospice care. J Pain Palliat Care Pharm. 2006 ;20(4): 33-39.

Riley J. , Ross JR , Rutter D. , et al. No pain relief from morphine? Individual variation in sensitivity to morphine and the need to switch to an alternative opioid in cancer patients . Support Care Cancer. 2006;14(1):56-64.

Silvestri B. , Bandieri E. , Del prete S. , et al. Oxycodone controlled-release as first choice therapy for moderate-to-severe cancer pain in Italian patients. Clin Drug Investig. 2008;28(7):399-407.

10.

Citron M. , Kaplan R. , Parris W. , et al. Long-term administration of controlled-release oxycodone tablets for the treatment of cancer pain. Cancer Investig. 1998;16(8):562-571.

11.

Ferrarese F. , Becchimanzi G. , Bernardo M. , et al. Pain treatment with high dose, controlled release oxycodone: an Italian perspective. Ther Clin Risk Manage. 2008;4(4):665-671.

12.

Viganó A. , Bruera E. , Suarez-Almazor ME Age, pain intensity, and opioid dose in patients with advanced cancer. Cancer. 1998;83(6):1244-1250.

13.

Kalso E. Oxycodone. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2005;29(5suppl): S47-S56.

14.

Mercadante S. , Arcuri E. Pharmacological management of cancer pain in the elderly. Drugs Aging. 2007;24(9):761-776.

15.

Núñez Olarte JM Oxycodone and the challenge of neuropathic cancer pain: a review. Oncology. 2008;74(suppl1):83-90.

16.

Mercadante S. , Villari P. , Ferrera P. , Casuccio A. Rapid switching between transdermal fentanyl and methadone in cancer patients. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23(22):5229-5234.

The Use of High Doses of Oxycodone in an Acute Palliative Care Unit

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References