Effect of vaginal administration of controlled-release oxycodone on cancer pain

• Published in: Ai zheng = Aizheng = Chinese journal of cancer Vol. 28; no. 7; p. 740
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xia, Ruan, Xin-Jian, Liu, Chang, Yu, Zhong-He
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China 01.07.2009
• Subjects: Administration, Intravaginal; Adult; Aged; Analgesics, Opioid - administration & dosage; Analgesics, Opioid - adverse effects; Analgesics, Opioid - therapeutic use; Bone Neoplasms - complications; Bone Neoplasms - secondary; Breast Neoplasms - complications; Delayed-Action Preparations; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - complications; Middle Aged; Oxycodone - administration & dosage; Oxycodone - adverse effects; Oxycodone - therapeutic use; Pain - drug therapy; Pain - etiology; Stomach Neoplasms - complications

Controlled-release oxycodone is an orally administered strong opioid analgesic for moderate to severe cancer pain. Sometimes, its oral administration has to be stopped because of continuous nausea, vomiting, conscious disturbance, or inability to swallow. This study was to investigate analgesic effect of vaginal administration of controlled-release oxycodone on cancer pain and observe adverse events to provide a new choice for female patients who can not tolerate the adverse events caused by oral administration. Controlled-release oxycodone tablets were vaginally administered to 36 female patients with moderate to severe cancer pain. The initial dose was 10 mg every 12 h to patients who had never taken opioid analgesics; former dose continued to patients switching to vaginal route from oral route. Among the 36 patients, six had complete relief of cancer pain, 20 had significant relief, four had moderate relief, and four had slight relief, two had no relief. The relief rate of cancer pain was 83.3%. The mean t