Mercadante, S., Porzio, G., Ferrera, P., Fulfaro, F., Aielli, F., Verna, L., . . . Mangione, S. (2008). Sustained-release oral morphine versus transdermal fentanyl and oral methadone in cancer pain management. European Journal of Pain, 12, 1040–1046.
To compare analgesic efficacy, adverse effects, need of increasing doses, and quality of life in patients with advanced cancer on morphine, fentanyl, and methadone
To compare the cost of pharmacologic pain management
Patients were randomized to morphine, fentanyl, or methadone. Morphine was offered as breakthrough pain medication at one-sixth of the equianalgesic 24-hour dose. Adjuvants were allowed. If the patient experienced poor opioid response or uncontrolled adverse events, he or she was switched to another opioid. Data were collected at weekly intervals for four weeks.
The study has clinical applicability for end-of-life and palliative care.
The study was a randomized controlled trial.
A similar number of patients in each group rotated to other opioids. There were no significant differences in the number of days to achieve dose stabilization, nor where there significant differences in the number of dose changes needed during titration. No differences existed in the PI of the three groups. OEI % was highest in the fentanyl group and significantly lower in the methadone group; 14 patients on methadone did not have a dose change, but 8 required a decrease in the dose and then a subsequent increase. There were no significant differences in quality-of-life scores between groups. Methadone was less expensive.
All three opioids were effective in controlling cancer pain in some patients. Adverse event profiles were similar. Methadone was less expensive compared to fentanyl and morphine but required clinical expertise in dosing due to the need to decrease and then increase the dose in some patients.
Long-acting morphine, fentanyl, and methadone are effective in controlling pain in advanced cancer. Methadone is an option for patients where cost is a concern, but prescribing methadone requires clinical expertise.