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ALESSANDRA CASUCCIO

Switching from morphine to methadone to improve analgesia and tolerability in cancer patients: A prospective study

  • Autori: Mercadante, S.*; Casuccio, A.; Fulfaro, F.; Groff, L.; Boffi, R.; Villari, P.; Gebbia, V.; Ripamonti, C.
  • Anno di pubblicazione: 2001
  • Tipologia: Articolo in rivista (Articolo in rivista)
  • OA Link: http://hdl.handle.net/10447/324079

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical benefits of switching from morphine to oral methadone in patients who experience poor analgesia or adverse effects from morphine. Patients and Methods: Fifty-two consecutive cancer patients receiving oral morphine but with uncontrolled pain and/or moderate to severe opioid adverse effects were switched to oral methadone administered every 8 hours using different dose ratios. Intensity of pain and adverse effects were assessed daily, and the symptom distress score (DS) was calculated before and after switching. Results: Data were analyzed for 50 patients. Switching was considered effective in 80% of the patients; results were achieved in an average of 3.65 days. In the 10 patients who switched to methadone because of uncontrolled pain, a significant reduction in pain intensity (P < .005) and an average of a 33% increase in methadone doses necessary (P < .01) were found after an average of 3.5 days. DS significantly decreased from an average of 8.4 to 4.5 (P < .0005). In the 32 patients switching because of uncontrolled pain and morphine-related adverse effects, significant improvement was found in pain intensity (P < .0005), nausea and vomiting (P < .03), constipation (P < .001), and drowsiness (P < .01), but a significant increase in the methadone dose of an average of 20% (P < .004) was required. Conclusion: In most patients with cancer pain referred for poor pain control and/or adverse effects, switching to oral methadone is a valid therapeutic option. In the clinical setting of poor pain control, higher doses of methadone are necessary with respect to the equianalgesic calculated dose ratios previously published. © 2001 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.