Abstract
The use of morphine in the treatment of cancer pain is widely accepted among people taking care of cancer patients and concerned with pain relief. Several problems regarding common side-effects, lifethreatening complications in cancer and opioid-non-responsive pain syndromes will be discussed. The development of grading systems may open new directions for adequate pain control.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ad Hoc Committee on Cancer Pain of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (1992) Cancer pain assessment and treatment curriculum guidelines. J Clin Oncol 10:1976–1982
Bonica JJ, Ventafidda V, Twycross RG (1990) Cancer pain. In: Bonica J (ed) Management of pain. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, pp 400–460
Bruera E, Mac Millan D, Hanson J, Mac Donald RN (1989) The Edmonton staging system for cancer pain: preliminary report. Pain 37:203–210
Doyle D (1991) Morphine: myths, morality and economics. Postgrad Med J 67 [Suppl 2]:70–73
Foley KM (1985) The treatment of cancer pain. N Engl J Med 313:84–95
Foley KM (1989) Controversies in cancer pain. Medical perspectives. Cancer 63:2257–2265
Portenoy RK, Hugen NA (1990)_Breakthrough pain: definition, prevalence and characteristics. Pain 41:273–281
Portenoy RK, Moulin DE, Rogers AG, Inturrisi CE, Foley KM (1985) Intravenous infusion of opioids in cancer pain: clinical review and guidelines for use. Cancer Treat Rep 70:575–581
Portenoy RK, Foley KM, Inturrisi CE (1990) The nature of opioid responsiveness and its implications for neuropathic pain: new hypotheses derived from studies of opioid infusions. Pain 43:273–286
Walsh TD (1984) Oral morphine in chronic cancer pain. Pain 18:1–11
Zenz M (1991) Morphine myths: sedation tolerance, addiction. Postgrad Med J 67 [Suppl 2]:100–102
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lossignol, D.A. Pitfalls in the use of opiates in treatment of cancer pain. Support Care Cancer 1, 256–258 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00366045
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00366045