Search results for "Breakthrough Pain"

Treating breakthrough pain in oncology

2018

Breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) is an episode of severe intensity in patients receiving an adequate treatment with opioids able to provide at least mild analgesia. BTcP is a heterogeneous condition as episodes vary between individuals. The aim of this article is to review the pharmacologic options for the management of BTcP. Areas covered: Recent reviews revealed that transmucosal preparations of fentanyl provided superior and more rapid pain relief as compared to placebo and oral morphine within the first 30 min after dosing. Few comparison studies among fentanyl products have been performed. Although dose titration has been recommended for years, a meaningful dosing, according to the leve…

Breakthrough pain: On the road again

2009

New drugs for pain management in advanced cancer patients.

2017

Advanced cancer patients represent a frail population, often requiring aggressive pain management, particularly in the late stage of disease, when untreated pain is one the most important causes of suffering. Areas covered: In the last decade, a series of new analgesics have been introduced in the market to offer additional options amongst existent drugs. The characteristics of these drugs, their efficacy and tolerability are examined on the basis of existent studies. Expert opinion: Although new analgesic preparations have been developed in recent years, no specific drug has provided a better analgesic performance in comparison with others. Some technologies have been developed to increase…

Breakthrough Pain (BTP) in Opioid-Tolerant Cancer Patients: A Pan-European Open-Label Multicentre Study with Fentanyl Buccal Tablet (FBT)

2012

ABSTRACT BTP, a transitory exacerbation of pain that occurs on a background of otherwise controlled persistent pain, is a common problem in cancer patients. FBT is indicated for the treatment of BTP in adults with cancer already receiving maintenance opioid therapy for chronic cancer pain and should be titrated to an effective dose that provides adequate analgesia and minimises undesirable events. In this study, patients entered a screening period and were randomized during an open-label titration period to a starting FBT dose of 100 µg (group A) or 200 µg (group B) to identify the FBT effective dose and then treated in an open-label period (for 8 BTP episodes). Patients' inclusion followed…

Pharmacotherapy for Breakthrough Cancer Pain

2012

Breakthrough pain (BTP) is a transient exacerbation of pain that occurs either spontaneously, or in relation to a specific predictable or unpredictable trigger, despite relatively stable and adequately controlled background pain. The principal pharmacological treatment of BTP is represented by the administration of opioids as needed. Oral opioids have traditionally been the only available drugs for BTP. However, the onset and duration of action of oral opioids such as morphine or oxycodone may not be suitable for treating many episodes of BTP that are of short onset and duration. Transmucosal administration of lipophilic substances has gained a growing popularity in recent years due to the …

The use of low doses of a sublingual fentanyl formulation for breakthrough pain in patients receiving low doses of opioids

2017

Objective: The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the efficacy and safety of low doses of sublingual fentanyl (SLF) for the treatment of breakthrough pain (BTP) in cancer patients in patients who were receiving low opioid doses for background analgesia. Methods: A sample of cancer patients presenting BTP episodes and receiving stable low doses of opioids for background pain (less than 60 mg of oral morphine equivalents) was selected to assess the efficacy and safety of low doses of SLF (67 μg). For each patient, data from four consecutive episodes were collected. For each episode, changes in pain intensity and adverse effects when pain got severe (T0), and 5, 10, and 15 min a…

Effects of age and gender in patients receiving doses of opioids for breakthrough pain proportional to background opioid doses.

2019

Aim: To identify the role of age and gender in analgesic and adverse effects after administering fentanyl products for breakthrough pain (BT), given in doses proportional to opioid doses given for background pain. Methods: Data from nine studies, in which patients with BP were given fentanyl products in doses proportional to their basal opioid regimen, were analyzed. Results: A total 462 patients presenting 1905 episodes of BP were included in this analysis. In older patients, the decrease in pain intensity was more pronounced 15 min after administration of a BP medication. No gender differences were found. No significant differences in frequency and intensity of adverse effects for age and…

The use of fentanyl buccal tablets for breakthrough pain by using doses proportional to opioid basal regimen in a home care setting.

2013

Abstract The dose of rapid onset opioids to be given for breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) is controversial. Dose proportional to the basal opioid regimen seem to be safe and effective in hospital units. However, data in other less protected settings, like home care, are lacking. The aim of this open-label study was to assess the efficacy and safety in a group of patients with BTcP followed at home, after giving a dose of fentanyl buccal tablets (FBT) proportional to the opioid basal regimen, skipping the steps for dose titration. Consecutive patients admitted to a home care program presenting BTcP episodes and receiving stable doses of opioids for background pain were selected. Data from fou…

The use of sublingual fentanyl for breakthrough pain by using doses proportional to opioid basal regimen.

2013

Abstract OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the efficacy and safety of sublingual fentanyl (SLF) in doses proportional to opioid doses used for background analgesia for the treatment of BTP of cancer patients. METHODS: A sample of patients admitted to an acute palliative care unit, presenting breakthrough pain (BTP) episodes and receiving stable doses of opioids for background pain was selected to assess the efficacy and safety of SLF used in doses proportional to the basal opioid regimen used for the management of BTP. For each patient, data from four consecutive episodes were collected. For each episode, nurses collected changes in pain intensity and adverse effe…

The use of opioids for breakthrough pain in acute palliative care unit by using doses proportional to opioid basal regimen.

2010

OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy and safety of different opioids used in doses proportional to the basal opioid regimen for the management of breakthrough pain (BP). METHODS: In 66 patients consecutive patients admitted to a pain relief and palliative care unit, the efficacy and safety of different opioids used in doses proportional to the basal opioid regimen for the management of breakthrough pain (BP) were assessed. The choice of the opioid to be administered as rescue medication was based on the characteristics of patients, clinical stability, compliance, preference, and so on. For each episode, nurses were instructed to routinely collect changes in pain intensity and emerging prob…