Wirz, S., Wittmann, M., Schenk, M., Schroeck, A., Schaefer, N., Mueller, M., . . . Nadstawek, J. (2009). Gastrointestinal symptoms under opioid therapy: A prospective comparison of oral sustained-release hydromorphone, transdermal fentanyl, and transdermal buprenorphine. European Journal of Pain, 13, 737-743.
To determine whether the transdermal opioids transdermal fentanyl (TDF) or transdermal buprenorphine (TDB) or oral sustained-release hydromorphone (OSRH) produced different gastrointestinal side effects.
Patients with nociceptive pain receiving one of the study drugs (TDF, TDB, or OSRH) over four weeks at a stable dose were identified. Medication adherence was checked daily.
Not applicable
This was a prospective, open-label, controlled study.
TD narcotics caused more constipation than oral hydromorphone.
In this study, TD narcotics caused more constipation than the oral narcotic.