Paracetamole
Effect of
intravenous administration of paracetamol on morphine consumption in cancer
pain control
OBJECTIVE:
In which deals with the study aimed to examine the
effectiveness of intravenous administration of paracetamol added to morphine in
the control of cancer pain and its possible contribution as reduction of opioid
consumption and opioid-related side effects.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
A total of 49 patients with chronic cancer pain
without neuropathic origin aged between 18 and 76 years and receiving step 2
treatment according to the World Health Organization analgesic ladder were
included. Patients were randomized to receive intravenous administration of
saline (control) or 1 g of paracetamol on top of morphine. Visual analog scale
(VAS), patient rating index (PRI), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)
status, patient satisfaction, and safety were evaluated.
MAIN RESULTS:
Both treatments resulted in improved VAS and PRI
scores compared to baseline. However, groups did not differ in terms of VAS and
PRI scores, morphine consumption, side-effect frequencies, laboratory values,
ECOG status, and patient satisfaction.
CONCLUSIONS:
Although
safe and there are signals for a true analgesic efficacy, our results failed to
confirm any benefits of add-on treatment with intravenous administration of
paracetamol. However, the study was under powered, and future studies in this
important area need to be wary of background noise and the risk of a type II
error.
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