The Journal of international medical research
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Conversion from standard opioid therapy to once-daily oral extended-release hydromorphone in patients with chronic cancer pain.
This open-label, multicenter study assessed the efficacy and tolerability of conversion to once-daily OROS hydromorphone from previous opioid agonist therapy in patients with chronic cancer pain. Patients were stabilized on their previous therapy before conversion at a 5:1 ratio of morphine sulfate to hydromorphone hydrochloride. The OROS hydromorphone dose was titrated over 3 - 21 days to achieve effective analgesia and was maintained for up to 14 days. ⋯ Mean pain-relief level remained stable after conversion and throughout treatment with OROS hydromorphone. Adverse events were as expected for cancer patients receiving opioid agonists. There were no clinically significant changes in vital signs.