Preliminary experience with the use of a new once-daily prolonged-release oral morphine capsules* in cancer patients with pain

Background. In an open, clinical study, preliminary assessment of analgesic efficacy and adverse effects of prolonged-release morphine sulphate capsules administered once-daily was conducted in patients with cancer whose pain required strong opioid analgesics administration. Material and methods. Seventeen patients participated who were treated with capsules containing 20, 40 and 60 mg of the drug. The former treatment comprised morphine (8 patients): controlled-release (5), immediate-release (one), subcutaneous and the study drug (akin 1 patient), transdermal fentanyl (3), tramadol (2), non-opioid analgesics (3) and combination of transdermal buprenorphine with immediate-release morphine in one patient. Analgesia was assessed by NRS (Numerical Rating Scale: 0 — no pain, 10 — the most severe pain); the result 1–3 was assessed as good, 4–5 as satisfactory, over 5 as unsatisfactory. Adverse effects were assessed by verbal scale: 0 — none; 1 — mild; 2 — moderate; 3 — severe. Results. Treatment lasted 7–161 (mean 50.47 ± 40.51) days; the daily dose range was 20–180 mg. Eleven patients (65%) assessed analgesia as good, 5 patients (30%) as partial, one patient (5%) had unsatisfactory analgesic effect. Adverse effects observed were as follows: constipation in 9 patients, drowsiness in two patients, nausea and vomiting in 2 patients, nausea alone in one patient, dry mouth in one patient. Conclusions. This preliminary study demonstrated high analgesic efficacy of prolonged-release once-daily morphine capsules in the dose range 20–180 mg in cancer patients with pain requiring strong opioid analgesics administration. The treatment was well tolerated with no serious adverse effects observed. Adv. Pall. Med. 2011; 10, 1: 23–28Background. In an open, clinical study, preliminary assessment of analgesic efficacy and adverse effects of prolonged-release morphine sulphate capsules administered once-daily was conducted in patients with cancer whose pain required strong opioid analgesics administration. Material and methods. Seventeen patients participated who were treated with capsules containing 20, 40 and 60 mg of the drug. The former treatment comprised morphine (8 patients): controlled-release (5), immediate-release (one), subcutaneous and the study drug (akin 1 patient), transdermal fentanyl (3), tramadol (2), non-opioid analgesics (3) and combination of transdermal buprenorphine with immediate-release morphine in one patient. Analgesia was assessed by NRS (Numerical Rating Scale: 0 — no pain, 10 — the most severe pain); the result 1–3 was assessed as good, 4–5 as satisfactory, over 5 as unsatisfactory. Adverse effects were assessed by verbal scale: 0 — none; 1 — mild; 2 — moderate; 3 — severe. Results. Treatment lasted 7–161 (mean 50.47 ± 40.51) days; the daily dose range was 20–180 mg. Eleven patients (65%) assessed analgesia as good, 5 patients (30%) as partial, one patient (5%) had unsatisfactory analgesic effect. Adverse effects observed were as follows: constipation in 9 patients, drowsiness in two patients, nausea and vomiting in 2 patients, nausea alone in one patient, dry mouth in one patient. Conclusions. This preliminary study demonstrated high analgesic efficacy of prolonged-release once-daily morphine capsules in the dose range 20–180 mg in cancer patients with pain requiring strong opioid analgesics administration. The treatment was well tolerated with no serious adverse effects observed. Adv. Pall. Med. 2011; 10, 1: 23–2

Polskie akcenty podczas 14-go Światowego Kongresu European Association for Palliative Care

European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) i s a scientific society, which brings together several thousand people involved  in various forms of activity in palliative care - including representatives of the medical & social fields, but also the spiritual carers, volunteers and family carers (www.eapcnet.eu). Currently EAPC members are the representatives of 56 organizations from 32 European countries. Poland is represented by: Polish Society of Palliative Medicine, which brings together mainly physicians and Polish Society of Palliative Care, bringing together nurses and other professionals as well as other staff and volunteers palliative and hospice care. The expression of a broad educational activity of the EAPC are held every two years, the world congresses. Fourteen was held on 8-10 May 2015 in Copenhagen under the theme Building Bridges. Infact those days helped to buildi bridges between different groups and representatives of many disciplines, cultures, regions and continents in response to new challenges in palliative care. The congress was attended by over 3,000 representatives of many countries in Europe and the world, including a group of professionals in various fields form Poland. This report presents the Polish threads 14th World Congress of the EAPC in Copenhagen, with medical issues, as well as volunteering, social education and involvement of prisoners in palliative care.European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) to założone prawie 30 lat temu towarzystwo naukowe, które obecnie zrzesza kilka tysięcy osób zaangażowanych w różne formy aktywności w medycynie paliatywnej – m.in. przedstawicieli świata medycznego, pracowników socjalnych, ale także opiekunów duchowych, wolontariuszy i osoby, które przebyły chorobę nowotworową (www.eapcnet.eu). Obecnie członkowie EAPC to reprezentanci 56 organizacji z 32 krajów Europy. Polskę reprezentują: Polskie Towarzystwo Medycyny Paliatywnej, które zrzesza głównie lekarzy, oraz Polskie Towarzystwo Opieki Paliatywnej, zrzeszające zarówno lekarzy, jak i pielęgniarki oraz innych pracowników i wolontariuszy opieki paliatywno-hospicyjnej. Wyrazem szerokiej aktywności edukacyjnej EAPC są organizowane co dwa lata światowe kongresy. Czternasty odbył się w dniach 8–10 maja 2015 r. w Kopenhadze pod hasłem Building Bridges, budowania mostów między różnymi grupami i przedstawicielami wielu dyscyplin, kultur, regionów i kontynentów w odpowiedzi na kolejne wyzwania opiekuńcze w opiece paliatywnej. W kongresie uczestniczyło ponad 3000 przedstawicieli wielu krajów Europy i świata, w tym także grupa profesjonalistów różnych dziedzin z Polski. W niniejszym sprawozdaniu przedstawiono polskie wątki 14. Światowego Kongresu EAPC w Kopenhadze