Opioid-induced hyperalgesia after rapid titration with intravenous morphine: Switching and re-titration to intravenous methadone.

Rapid titration with intravenous morphine (IV-MO) provides fast and efficient pain relief in cancer patients with severe-excruciating pain. However, some patients, after an initially favourable response, can develop an hyperexcitated state unrelieved or worsened by further dose increments.Eighty-one patients admitted on emergency basis titrated with IV-MO were assessed.12 patients were unsuccessfully titrated with IV-MO. Switching to intravenous methadone (IV-ME) and titrating the doses proved to be successfully.In escalating opioid doses rapidly a recognition of the development of hyperalgesia should be suspected. Increasing doses of opioids may stimulate rather than inhibiting the central…