Methadone versus Fentanyl in Patients with Radiation-Induced Nociceptive Pain with Head and Neck Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Noninferiority Trial.
Pain Pract
; 18(3): 331-340, 2018 03.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28691202
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Pain is still a burden for many patients with cancer. A recent trial showed the superiority of methadone over fentanyl in neuropathic pain, and we expect that this finding could influence the number of patients treated with methadone.METHODS:
We performed a randomized controlled noninferiority trial in patients with nociceptive pain. Eighty-two strong-opioid-naïve patients with head and neck cancer with substantial pain (pain numeric rating scale [NRS] score ≥ 4) due to radiation therapy were included. Forty-two patients were treated with methadone, and 40 with fentanyl. Patients were evaluated at 1, 3, and 5 weeks. The primary outcomes were reduction in average pain and clinical success (50% pain decrease). We set the predefined noninferiority margin at 1 on the NRS and 10% clinical success. Secondary outcomes were pain interference, global perceived effect (GPE), side effects, and opioid escalation index.RESULTS:
Noninferiority was shown for decrease in NRS for maximum and mean pain scores at 1 and 3 weeks. Noninferiority was shown for clinical success at 1 week only. The opioid escalation index was lower in the methadone group at 3 and 5 weeks as compared to fentanyl (1.44 vs. 1.99, P = 0.004; and 1.50 vs. 2.32, P = 0.013). The pain interference in the methadone group was significantly decreased at 3 weeks only. GPE and side effects were not different.CONCLUSION:
This is the first study to show noninferiority of methadone compared to fentanyl at 1 and 3 weeks in the treatment of radiation-induced nociceptive pain in patients with head and neck cancer.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Lesões por Radiação
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Fentanila
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Dor Nociceptiva
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Analgésicos Opioides
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Metadona
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article