Use of Oxycodone in Management of Advanced Cancer Pain

Article originally published in “El Dolor” Magazine 2011; 56:18-21

Abstract

Introduction: Descriptive study that seeks to evaluate the experience of our unit with the use of oxycodone, an opioidwith a profile similar to morphine, in patients with advanced cancer pain.
Objective: To evaluate analgesic efficacy of oxycodone (controlled release), patient profile, doses and adverse effects.
Methodology: A descriptive, retrospective study. Review records of patients treated with oxycodone during 2009 and2010. Analgesic response estimated with Wilcoxon test. Descriptive statistics on other variables. Assessment of painby numeric scale range 0 to 10.
Results: 64 patients. 34 women and 30 men were analyzedMean age 59.5 years. Type of Pain: Somatic (53%), visceral (19%) neuropathic (5%) mixed (23%). Average time of oxycodone use: 3.2 months. Average VAS before starting Oxycodone 8 (5-9). Average VAS with oxycodone 3 (2-8) (p <0.0005). The average dose used was 40mg/day (2080mg/day). Adverse effects: in 44 patients: nausea (22%), constipation (18%), pruritus (15%), anorexia (13%). 31%patients were using weak opioids previously, 62% was using methadone or morphine. 7% received oxycodone asinitial therapy. The main reasons for descontinue the use of oxycodone were poorly controlled pain (54%), need forsubcutaneous drug use (29%) drug intolerance (17%).
Conclusions: Oxycodone allows adequate pain control. Doses used were lower that the described in the literature and its adverse effect profile is similar to other opioids.Alternative in intolerance to morphine or opioid rotation.