The study was prospective, randomized. Patients with cancer pain were evaluated, one group receiving methadone with morphine and another group receiving morphine as the only opioid. Pain intensity, total morphine dose and adverse effects were evaluated.
Opioids are the most important analgesics for the relief of cancer pain. In addition tolerance and hyperalgesia may ocurr as a consequence of treatment with these drugs. Medications for pain relief may also cause increased pain. NMDA receptor blockers may prevent or reduce the development of hyperalgesia. Methadone is a weak NMDA receptor antagonist and therefore its association could prevent hyperalgesia. The primary endpoint of the study was whether the administration of low dose methadone associated with morphine promotes better analgesic effect in patients with cancer pain, And secondarily to assess whether there is a reduction in the total dose of opioid needed for pain relief, and whether reduction of the opioid-related adverse effects occurs.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
40
Rioko K Sakata
São Paulo, Brazil
RECRUITINGOpioid consumption
Total dose of morphine used by the patient
Time frame: 3 months
Pain intensity
Measure of pain intensity by verbal numerical rating score (VNRS - zero to 10) where 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain imaginable. Values between 0 and 3 mean a good result, between 4 and 6 a poor result and between 7 and 10 a very poor result.
Time frame: 3 months
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.