Liguori, S., Gottardi, M., Micheletto, G., & Bruno, L. (2010). Pharmacological approach to chronic visceral pain. Focus on oxycodone controlled release: An open multicentric study. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 14(3), 185–190.
To determine the incidence of visceral pain and to evaluate the efficacy of oxycodone in the context of visceral pain
Patients with visceral pain stopped existing drug treatment and instead used controlled-release oxycodone for 15 days. Conversion was according to international guidelines. Dosage of the study drug was individualized. If by day 7 a patient did not achieve a pain-score reduction of at least 50% or if he or she experienced a severe adverse event, clinicians administered an alternative opioid. Investigators gathered pain scores at baseline and after 3, 7, and 15 days of treatment. The regimen permitted use of rescue medication, morphine sulfate.
Prospective observational single-group trial
All patients who entered the study completed the study. None had to switch to another opioid. Mean dose after titration was 50.1 mg/day controlled-release (CR) oxycodone. At all time points, pain scores had decreased from a baseline mean of 7.04. At day 15, the mean pain score was 2.37 (p < 0.00001). Authors noted some improvement in all domains of the SF-12, but these changes were not statistically significant. Few patients experienced more than mild adverse evens. The most frequent adverse events were nausea, constipation, and sleepiness.
In this study, use of CR oxycodone was associated with significant reduction in mean pain scores over a 15-day period, with minimal adverse events.
This study showed CR oxycodone to be effective in producing significant pain reduction within three days and over 15 days. This finding warrants a study of long-term effect. CR oxycodone is one medication in the armamentarium of opioid formulations for pain management. The side effects of CR oxycodone are those to be expected with opioid use.