European journal of clinical pharmacology
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Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. · Aug 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialSerum concentrations of opioids when comparing two switching strategies to methadone for cancer pain.
Our aim was to compare pharmacological aspects of two switching strategies from morphine/oxycodone to methadone; the stop and go (SAG) strategy in which methadone is started directly after the initial opioid has been stopped, and the 3-days switch (3DS), in which morphine/oxycodone is gradually changed to methadone by cross-tapering over 3 days. ⋯ The SAG group was initially more exposed to methadone and less to the replaced opioids but without observed clinical benefit and with a higher dropout rate. Patients switched to methadone should be followed closely for the first 5 days, regardless of switching strategy.