Efficacy and Tolerability of OROS Hydromorphone in Strong Opioid-Naive Patients: An Open Label, Prospective Study.
- Author:
Jun Eul HWANG
1
;
Dae Eun KIM
;
Ha Na KIM
;
Ju young YOON
;
Woo Kyun BAE
;
Hyun Jeong SHIM
;
Sang Hee CHO
;
Ik Joo CHUNG
Author Information
1. Division of Hemato-oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. ijchung@chonnam.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Cancer;
Pain;
Hydromorphone;
Opioid
- MeSH:
Analgesics, Opioid;
Breakthrough Pain;
Delayed-Action Preparations;
Electrolytes;
Humans;
Hydromorphone;
Patient Satisfaction;
Prospective Studies;
Research Personnel
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
2011;80(3):317-322
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: OROS hydromorphone is a synthetic opioid agent. While clinical studies have tested its effectiveness at controlling cancer-associated pain in patients who have received other strong opioids, no clinical studies have tested its effectiveness at managing cancer pain in strong opioid-naive patients. We performed the present study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of OROS hydromorphone in strong opioid-naive cancer patients. METHODS: We administered OROS hydromorphone to patients who had not received strong opioids during the previous month. The starting dose was 8 mg/day. The dose was increased every 2 days in patients who experienced more than four episodes of breakthrough pain per day (more than four times in patients being treated with short-acting opioids). We evaluated the efficacy, safety and tolerability of ORS hydromorphone. We also evaluated patient satisfaction and investigators' global assessments. RESULTS: We enrolled 23 patients to the study. The decrease in the numeric rating scale (NRS) was 59%. NRS variation had decreased markedly during the previous 24 h. All patients achieved stable pain control. The side effects were similar to those of other strong opioids. In total, 26% of patients were very satisfied with the treatment and 47% satisfied, and 74% of the investigators deemed OROS hydromorphone to be very effective or effective at controlling cancer pain. CONCLUSIONS: OROS hydromorphone is an osmotically driven, controlled-release preparation that is very effective and safe when administered once daily to strong opioid-naive cancer patients.
