The study is intended to explore changes in the composition and quantity of gut bacteria subject to treatment with strong pain medication. Two pain medications will be compared (OXN PR and OxyPR). Other gastrointestinal parameters will be assessed.
Patients who require around-the-clock opioid therapy and show symptoms of constipation secondary to opioid treatment will be randomised to receive either OXN PR followed by OxyPR, or vice versa. Each treatment takes 24days. The study is composed of three phases, a pre-randomisation phase, a double-blind phase and a Follow-up phase.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
108
Gemeinschaftspraxis Loewenstein
Mainz, Germany
Dr J Hafer
Wetzlar, Germany
Quantitative analysis of intestinal microbiota as determined in stool samples of subjects treated with OXN PR compared to those treated with OxyPR. As this is an exploratory study, there are no primary objectives, but objectives of main interest.
Composition and abundance of selected bacteria in stool samples by means of genomic sequencing of bacterial genes coding for 16S rRNA will be analysed. The analysis will provide information about intra-individual bacterial profile during the study as well as insights about potential effects of treatments, i.e. OXN PR and OxyPR on bacterial profile.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Orocaecal transit time on the basis of intestinal absorption & intermediary bacterial metabolism by breath tests (H2 and CH4 breath test). As this is an exploratory study, there are no primary objectives, but objectives of main interest.
Orocaecal time will be measured by H2/CH4/ analysis of expired air of subjects (breath tests). The analysis will provide information about intraindividual changes during the study as well as insights about potential effects of treatments, i.e. OXN PR and OxyPR on orocaecal time.
Time frame: 4 weeks
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