Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2010
Review Meta AnalysisA systematic review of oxymorphone in the management of chronic pain.
Opioids are recommended for control of moderate-to-severe, chronic, malignant, and nonmalignant pain. A controlled-release formulation of the opioid oxymorphone has recently been launched. The aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of oxymorphone as an analgesic in chronic pain. ⋯ No significant differences between oxymorphone and oxycodone at equipotent doses were found. In conclusion, oxymorphone is superior to placebo. There is no evidence that the efficacy of oxymorphone differs from other opioids.
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In the event of an overwhelming influenza pandemic, many health care systems will implement a triage system that would potentially deny critical care treatment to some seriously ill patients. Although all triage systems have guaranteed palliative care for those who are denied critical care, no jurisdiction has yet developed a plan to accommodate the anticipated "surge" in demand for palliative care. The authors present a mathematical and ethical justification for a palliative care surge plan and outline some of the key elements that should be included in such a plan.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyMulticenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of THC:CBD extract and THC extract in patients with intractable cancer-related pain.
This study compared the efficacy of a tetrahydrocannabinol:cannabidiol (THC:CBD) extract, a nonopioid analgesic endocannabinoid system modulator, and a THC extract, with placebo, in relieving pain in patients with advanced cancer. In total, 177 patients with cancer pain, who experienced inadequate analgesia despite chronic opioid dosing, entered a two-week, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. Patients were randomized to THC:CBD extract (n = 60), THC extract (n = 58), or placebo (n = 59). ⋯ However, the results from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Cancer Questionnaire showed a worsening in nausea and vomiting with THC:CBD compared with placebo (P = 0.02), whereas THC had no difference (P = 1.0). Most drug-related adverse events were mild/moderate in severity. This study shows that THC:CBD extract is efficacious for relief of pain in patients with advanced cancer pain not fully relieved by strong opioids.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2010
Neuroleptic dose in the management of delirium in patients with advanced cancer.
Neuroleptics are commonly used in the management of delirium. Limited information is available regarding the dosage requirements and efficacy of neuroleptics in the palliative care setting. We determined the type and dose of neuroleptic use by delirium subtype. ⋯ However, HEDD increased with nurses' distress related to patients' symptoms (disorientation to place P=0.002, disorientation to time P=0.008, delusions P=0.041, and agitation P<0.001), and palliative care specialists' distress related to patients' hallucinatory symptoms (P=0.006) and agitation (P=0.006). In this study, the administered neuroleptic dose was influenced more by health care professional distress than by delirium symptom frequency. Future studies should examine the efficacy of neuroleptic dose according to individual delirium symptoms.