Abstract
Twenty-two patients who received fentanyl by continuous subcutaneous infusion for treatment: of cancer pain were evaluated retrospectively. No local toxicities were noted. Five patients were switched from transdermal fentanyl due to uncontrolled pain; three achieved stability, accompanied by improvement in visual analogue scores for pain. Seventeen patients were switched from other opioids due to toxicity; 10 achieved stability, with documented improvement in toxicity in seven. The median dose ratio of opioid prior to switchover (mg/day) to fentanyl at stabilization (mg/day) was 85.4 (range 65-112.5) for morphine and 23.0 (range 10.7-29.7) for hydromorphone. Of six stable patients switched from subcutaneous to transdermal fentanyl, four maintained stability. We conclude that fentanyl by continuous subcutaneous infusion is a useful alternative for cancer patients who experience uncontrolled pain while receiving transdermal fentanyl or who experience toxicity on other opioids.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 323-326 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Journal of pain and symptom management |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 1998 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Cancer pain
- Fentanyl
- Subcutaneous opioid
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Nursing
- Clinical Neurology
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine