Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialIndividual difference variables and the effects of progressive muscle relaxation and analgesic imagery interventions on cancer pain.
Clinicians in acute care settings are often called upon to manage cancer pain unrelieved by medications. Cognitive-behavioral strategies, such as relaxation and imagery, are recommended for cancer pain management; however, there appear to be individual differences in their effects. This pilot study examined variation in pain outcomes achieved with progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and analgesic imagery interventions among hospitalized patients with cancer pain, and assessed the influence of four individual difference variables (cognitive ability, outcome expectancy, previous experience, and concurrent symptoms) on pain relief achieved with each intervention. ⋯ Patients who achieved a meaningful improvement in pain with analgesic imagery reported greater imaging ability, more positive outcome expectancy, and fewer concurrent symptoms than those who did not achieve a meaningful reduction in pain. Similar relationships were not significant for the PMR intervention. Investigators should continue efforts to identify factors that moderate the effects of cognitive-behavioral pain coping strategies so that clinicians can identify the most beneficial treatments for individual patients.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyA randomized, open, parallel group, multicenter trial to investigate analgesic efficacy and safety of a new transdermal fentanyl patch compared to standard opioid treatment in cancer pain.
A new 72-hour transdermal fentanyl matrix patch has been designed, which has a 35%-50% reduction of the absolute fentanyl content compared with other currently available transdermal fentanyl patches that are using the matrix technology. The new patch has previously been shown to be pharmacokinetically bioequivalent to the marketed fentanyl patch. To determine noninferiority in efficacy in cancer patients and to compare safety, a clinical trial comparing the new fentanyl patch with standard oral or transdermal opioid treatment was planned. ⋯ Noninferiority was shown; the upper 95% confidence interval limits of the mean difference in relative PI area under the curve between the fentanyl patch and standard opioid treatment were less than 10% for both the intention-to-treat and per-protocol populations. Scores for the tolerability endpoints were similar in the treatment groups. The new fentanyl matrix patch with a lower drug load was found noninferior and as safe as established standard oral and transdermal opioid treatment.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyEfficacy and safety of transdermal buprenorphine: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 289 patients with severe cancer pain.
Strong opioids are recommended for treating severe cancer pain in the advanced stages of the disease. Few data are available concerning the efficacy of buprenorphine in cancer pain. We compared transdermal buprenorphine 70 microg/h (BUP TDS) to placebo in an enriched design study. ⋯ This result was supported by a lower daily pain intensity, lower intake of buprenorphine sublingual tablets and fewer dropouts in the BUP TDS group. The incidence of adverse events was slightly higher for BUP TDS. In conclusion, BUP TDS 70 microg/h is an efficacious and safe treatment for patients with severe cancer pain.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jul 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialRelief of incident dyspnea in palliative cancer patients: a pilot, randomized, controlled trial comparing nebulized hydromorphone, systemic hydromorphone, and nebulized saline.
Acute episodic breathlessness in patients receiving palliative care is a distressing symptom with little evidence-base to inform management. This pilot, double-blind, controlled, crossover study compared the effects of nebulized hydromorphone, systemic hydromorphone and nebulized saline for the relief of episodic breathlessness in advanced cancer patients. On three occasions of acute breathlessness, patients randomly received either nebulized hydromorphone, a systemic breakthrough dose of hydromorphone or nebulized saline together with a blinding agent. ⋯ Only nebulized hydromorphone produced a rapid improvement in breathlessness that reached a magnitude considered to be clinically important. Interpretation of these results is considered in relation to our definition of clinical significance, the dose of hydromorphone used and the possibility of a placebo effect. This study can serve to inform the design of future trials to investigate the management of incident breathlessness.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jul 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialPergolide increases the efficacy of cathodal direct current stimulation to reduce the amplitude of laser-evoked potentials in humans.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was recently reintroduced as a tool for inducing relatively long-lasting changes in cortical excitability in focal brain regions. Anodal stimulation over the primary motor cortex enhances cortical excitability, whereas cathodal stimulation decreases it. Prior studies have shown that enhancement of D2 receptor activity by pergolide consolidates tDCS-generated excitability diminution for up to 24 hours and that cathodal stimulation of the primary motor cortex diminishes experimentally induced pain sensation and reduces the N2-P2 amplitude of laser-evoked potentials immediately poststimulation. ⋯ Additionally, pergolide prolonged the effect of the cathodal tDCS for up to 24 hours, and a significantly lowered pain sensation was observed for up to 40 minutes. Our study is a further step toward clinical application of cathodal tDCS over the primary motor cortex using pharmacological intervention to prolong the excitability-diminishing effect on pain perception for up to 24 hours poststimulation. Furthermore, it demonstrates the potential for repetitive daily stimulation therapy for pain patients.