• Wen-Zhou Zhang, Wei-Jiang Yu, Xiu-Li Zhao, and Bao-Xia He.
• Department of Pharmacy, Henan Cancer Hospital, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China E-mail : hbxberry@sina.com.
• Asian Pac J Cancer P. 2014 Jan 1;15(20):8797-800.

ObjectiveTo analyze cost-effectiveness of morphine, MS contin and oxycodone in the treatment of cancer pain, providing guidance for rational drug use in the clinic.MethodsConfirmed by histology, a total of 171 patients with various cancers who required analgesic treatment were selected and divided into 3 groups, 57 cases for each group, given morphine, MS contin and oxycodone, respectively. If there appeared a poor short-term effect or aggravated sudden pain during the treatment, a short-acting morphine injection was given and adverse reactions were processed by symptomatic treatment. The pain relief rate and adverse reactions of groups were observed and pharmacoeconomics evaluation was undertaken.ResultsThe pain relief rates with morphine, MS contin and oxycodone were 89.5%(51/57), 91.2%(52/57) and 93.0%(53/57), respectively, with no difference samong groups (χ2=4.4489, P=0.6162). The occurrence rates of adverse reactions were 59.7%(34/57), 54.4%(31/57) and 43.9%(25/57), again with no significant variation (P>0.05). The ratios of cost-effectiveness (C/E) for the 3 groups were 14.6±7.21, 15.0±7.44 and 16.1±8.10. When the price of 3 kinds of analgesics was reduced by 10%, the ratios of cost-effectiveness were 12.2±6.53, (13.4±6.08 and 14.5±6.74 but there was no differences when compared with before the price adjustment (t=1.86, P=0.0651; t=1.30, P=0.1948; t=1.17, P=0.2453).ConclusionMorphine, MS contin and oxycodone give similar pain relief and adverse reaction rates but of all, morphine is the preferred drug for the treatment of cancer pain from the perspective of pharmacoeconomics.

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