Clinical comparative study of oxycodone sustained-release tablet versus morphine tablet in dose titration therapy on moderate and severe chronic cancer pain

Abstract

Objective To observe the clinical effect and adverse reaction of oxycodone sustainedrelease tablet and morphine tablet in dose titration therapy on moderate and severe chronic cancer pain. Methods Sixty patients suffering from moderate and severe cancer pain, without using opioid drugs, were divided into oxycodone sustained-release tablet group and morphine tablet group by random digits table method with 30 cases each. The patients in oxycodone sustained- release tablet group were administered 10 mg oxycodone sustained-release tablet every 12 h, and the patients in morphine tablet group were administered 5 or 10 mg morphine tablet whenever needed. The total dose of opioid drugs was acquired after 24 h, and was converted into equal dose of oxycodone sustained- release tablet. The condition of pain control and adverse reaction were observed and recorded in a week. Results During the titration, the number of daily outbreak pain and daily medication in oxycodone sustained- release tablet were significantly lower than those in morphine tablet: (1.27 ± 1.53) times vs. (4.87 ± 1.98) times and (3.37 ± 1.78) times vs. (5.10 ± 2.20) times, and there were statistical differences (P 0.05). At the first day after titration, the incidence of daily outbreak pain in oxycodone sustained-release tablet was significantly lower than that in morphine tablet: 23.33% (7/30) vs. 53.33% (16/30), the rate of reaching steady pain control state was significantly higher than that in morphine tablet: 86.67% (26/30) vs. 63.33% (19/30), and there were statistical differences (P 0.05). Conclusions The pain relief rate and side effect of oxycodone sustainedrelease tablet is similar to that of morphine tablet in dose titration therapy on moderate and severe chronic cancer pain, but analgesic effect is faster than morphine tablet. Oxycodone sustained- release tablet decreases the number of outbreak pain and relieves patients′ pain in the titration process. Oxycodone sustained- release tablet may have advantage of time and effect, which is worth to be widely used in clinical therapy. Key words: Carcinoma; Morphine; Pain; Titrimetry; Oxycodone