Abstract

COLLADO, F.  and  TORRES, L. M.. Combination of TTS-Fentanyl and Oral Transmucosal Fentanyl citrate (OTFC) in opioid-naive patients suffering severe osteoarticular pain: Towards a fast-track analgesic ladder. Rev. Soc. Esp. Dolor [online]. 2007, vol.14, n.4, pp.257-265. ISSN 1134-8046.

This 6-month observational prospective study was conducted to assess the efficacy of fentanyl TTS associated with oral transtnucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) for breakthrough pain in 250 patients with intense chronic (≥ 6 months) osteoarthritis pain. A VAS score ≥ 8 at entry was required. The starting dose of 12 µg/h fentanyl TTS was titrated in 25 µg/h increments to a VAS score ≤ 4. OTFC was administered as single-unit doses of 400 µg. The mean (SD) VAS score decreased from 8.86 (0.25) at baseline to 2.1 (0.74) at 6 months. The percentage of patients with poor quality of sleep decreased from 80.4% at baseline to 4,7% at the end of the study. The percentage of patients with inadequate pain control decreased from 12.4% at month 1 to 2.14% at month 6. Pain control was achieved with the 50 µg/h dose in 59.65% of patients, the 75 µg/h dose in 4.72%, and the 100 µg/h dose in 1.71%. Only 1 patient required 125 µg/h at the end of the study. The daily consumption of single-unit doses of OTFC decreased from 5.08 at month 1 to 2.88 at month 3, and 1.45 at month 6. Headache, nausea/vomiting, constipation, and somnolence of mild or modérate intensity were the most common side effects. Treatment was discontinued because of nausea/vomiting in 11 patients, somnolence in 5, and dermatitis in 1. Fentanyl TTS associated with OTFC for breakthrough pain is a feasible and effective strategy in opioid naive patients with intense chronic osthoeoartritis pain.

Keywords : Intense chronic pain; Analgesic Ladder; Fentanyl TTS; OTFC; Analgesic Elevator; Osthoeoartritis pain.

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