Journal of palliative medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Can we predict which patients with refractory dyspnea will respond to opioids?
Dyspnea is frequently encountered in end-stage diseases even when reversible issues are addressed. Which clinical factors best define patient subpopulations that will most predictably benefit from opioids in this clinical setting? ⋯ Phase 4 pharmaco-vigilance trials are needed in palliative care to define people who are most likely to experience a net benefit from treatment such as opioids for refractory dyspnea.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Incidence of weak opioids adverse events in the management of cancer pain: a double-blind comparative trial.
With the objective of comparing incidence of adverse events of the opioids codeine, hydrocodone, and tramadol in the relief of cancer pain, we conducted a randomized controlled trial in which patients with cancer were randomly assigned according to a computer-generated schedule to receive one of the three opioids. Of the 177 patients who participated, 62 patients received hydrocodone, 59 patients received codeine, and 56 patients received tramadol. The pain experienced by the participants originated most frequently from the stomach, breast, or prostate gland and was classified as either somatic (33%), visceral (52%), mixed (6%), or neuropathic (9%). ⋯ Of the total number of cases, 57% fell in the age range of 60-89 years old and 50% of the participants were female. No significant statistical difference in the analgesic efficacy of the three opioids was found (p: 0.69; chi(2): 0.73). Use of tramadol produced higher rates of adverse events than codeine and hydrocodone: vomiting, dizziness, loss of appetite, and weakness (p < 0.05).
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Duloxetine versus routine care in the long-term management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain.
Duloxetine hydrochloride is a dual reuptake inhibitor of both serotonin and norepinephrine. In the present open-label study, the safety of duloxetine at a fixed-dose of 60 mg twice daily (BID) for up to 52 weeks was evaluated and compared to routine care in the therapy of patients diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP). ⋯ In this study, duloxetine was safe and well tolerated compared to routine care in the long-term management of patients with DPNP.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Outcome evaluation of a randomized trial of the PhoenixCare intervention: program of case management and coordinated care for the seriously chronically ill.
To document outcomes of a randomized trial of the PhoenixCare demonstration program of palliative care and coordinated care/case management for seriously chronically ill individuals who simultaneously received active treatment from managed care organizations (MCOs). ⋯ A novel model of patient care that combined greatly enhanced palliative carefocused case management with ongoing MCO-based treatment was associated with improved functioning of chronically severely ill patients in the last years of life.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Intravenous versus subcutaneous morphine titration in patients with persisting exacerbation of cancer pain.
Patients with cancer pain with initially adequate analgesia under oral sustained-release opioid medication may suffer from persisting pain exacerbations. Sometimes even fast help is needed and then optimally performed by intravenous application (IVA) of immediate-release (IR) opioids. This IVA, however, may only be performed by physicians in Germany. ⋯ Intravenous and subcutaneous-morphine titration are adequate to antagonize persisting pain exacerbations in cancer pain patients quickly and to adapt the continuous opioid analgesic medication.