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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Jun 2011
The use of high doses of oxycodone in an acute palliative care unit.
- Sebastiano Mercadante, Patrizia Ferrera, Fabrizio David, and Alessandra Casuccio.
- Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Palermo, Italy. terapiadeldolore@lamaddalenanet.it
- Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2011 Jun 1;28(4):242-4.
AbstractA retrospective study of patients who were prescribed controlled-release oxycodone (CRO) in a period of 3 years (2006-2008) was performed. A total of 212 patients were prescribed at discharge CRO for background analgesia; 129, 43, and 40 patients were prescribed doses of oxycodone of less than 120 mg/day (group L), 120 to 240 mg/day (group M), and more than 240 mg/day (group L), respectively. No differences in gender, primary diagnosis, and pain mechanisms were found, but doses were significantly lower in older patients (P < .0005). At discharge, adverse effects were mild and only a minority of patients were switched to other opioids. This study demonstrated that CRO administered in larger doses was safe and effective, showing versatility and flexibility similar to morphine.
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