Search results for "high doses of opioids"

Equipotent doses to switch from high doses of opioids to transdermal buprenorphine.

2008

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the equianalgesic ratio of transdermal buprenorphine (TD BUP) with oral morphine and TD fentanyl in a sample of consecutive cancer patients receiving stable doses of 120-240 mg of oral morphine or 50-100 microg of TD fentanyl, reporting adequate pain and symptom control. MATERIALS, METHODS, AND RESULTS: Patients receiving daily stable doses of opioids for more than 6 days, with no more than two doses of oral morphine (20 and 40 mg, respectively) as needed, were switched to TD BUP using a fentanyl-BUP ratio of 0.6:0.8 and an oral morphine-BUP ratio of 70:1. Opioid doses, pain and symptom intensity, global satisfaction, and number of breakth…