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Effect of intravenous administration of paracetamol on morphine consumption in cancer pain control

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Abstract

Objective

The present 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 43 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 underpowered, 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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Author notes

  1. Kader Keskinbora

    Present address: , Incirli Cad. No: 4 3/5, Bakirkoy, 34740, Istanbul, Turkey

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pain Clinic, Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Buket Tasmacioglu, Isik Aydinli, Kader Keskinbora, Ali Ferit Pekel & Tamer Salihoglu

  2. Department of Gastroenterelogy, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Abdullah Sonsuz

Authors
  1. Buket Tasmacioglu
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  2. Isik Aydinli
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  3. Kader Keskinbora
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  4. Ali Ferit Pekel
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  5. Tamer Salihoglu
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  6. Abdullah Sonsuz
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Correspondence to Kader Keskinbora.

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Tasmacioglu, B., Aydinli, I., Keskinbora, K. et al. Effect of intravenous administration of paracetamol on morphine consumption in cancer pain control. Support Care Cancer 17, 1475–1481 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0612-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0612-8

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