Nasal Fentanyl for Chronic Cancer Pain

Overview

Today, patients with cancer pain in need of opioids for moderate to severe pain get long-acting morphine twice a day and morphine tablets taken on demand in addition. This procedure might be based on the assumption that cancer pain is persistent, although the evidence to support whether this assumption applies to all cancer patients is lacking. Some cancer patients might not need a fixed dose of long-acting morphine. Because of rapid pain relief, the new fentanyl drugs open for the possibility to take an opioid on demand when pain occurs. A pilot study where 10 patients with cancer pain were treated with a rapid-acting fentanyl nasal spray taken on demand, showed that this treatment was apparently feasible and safe for these patients. This approach is studied further in NFCP-II. The participants will be treated with rapid-acting fentanyl nasal spray and long-acting morphine in a crossover study. The primary outcome will be patient satisfaction. The study will consist of a test dose of nasal fentanyl, a dose-finding phase and a treatment phase with either nasal fentanyl taken on demand or slow-released morphine taken twice a day. After 10 days of treatment there is a crossover and the opposite drug is used for the same participant. Morphine tablets can be taken on demand in all phases of the study. The participants will meet the investigator at inclusion, at the crossover and at the end of treatment. During the study, a diary is filled in by the participants every morning. Questions about pain and side effects are answered. Satisfaction is measured at the crossover and at end of treatment while preference is measured at the end of treatment.

Conditions