The Use of Methadone in Pediatric Cancer Pain - A Retrospective Study from a Governmental Cancer Center in India.
Cancer
methadone
opioid
pain
palliative care
pediatric
Journal
Indian journal of palliative care
ISSN: 0973-1075
Titre abrégé: Indian J Palliat Care
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101261221
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Historique:
received:
24
04
2020
revised:
07
01
2020
accepted:
10
02
2020
entrez:
26
5
2021
pubmed:
27
5
2021
medline:
27
5
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The management of cancer-related pain relies on access to opioids. When regular opioids are not tolerated, or are insufficient, methadone is an affordable and effective analgesic. The aim of the project was to describe the pattern of use and clinical experience of methadone in pediatric cancer pain at a governmental cancer hospital in Hyderabad, one of the four Indian cancer centers with permission to prescribe methadone. This was a retrospective study of medical records of all children, under the age of 18, who had been prescribed methadone from September 9, 2017, to November 19, 2019. Data on analgesic effect, prior and concomitant analgesic treatment, opioid side effects, and the handling of methadone were analyzed. A total of 11 children were identified and studied. Methadone was introduced mainly when pain was uncontrolled by regular opioids. Initial daily doses ranged from 1 to 15 mg. The duration of treatment ranged from 7 to 307, with a median of 50 days in the nine patients where treatment exceeded one single dosage. Good analgesic effect was reported in 5/9 children, unchanged from previous analgesic treatment in three patients and without any effect in one child. No severe side effects were reported. Low-dose methadone in the treatment of pediatric cancer pain at a low-resource cancer center was safe and well tolerated by the patients, with long treatment durations. It was safely managed, administered with single to double daily dosages, hence easy for patients and family to handle, and an affordable treatment option.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The management of cancer-related pain relies on access to opioids. When regular opioids are not tolerated, or are insufficient, methadone is an affordable and effective analgesic.
AIM
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the project was to describe the pattern of use and clinical experience of methadone in pediatric cancer pain at a governmental cancer hospital in Hyderabad, one of the four Indian cancer centers with permission to prescribe methadone.
METHODS
METHODS
This was a retrospective study of medical records of all children, under the age of 18, who had been prescribed methadone from September 9, 2017, to November 19, 2019. Data on analgesic effect, prior and concomitant analgesic treatment, opioid side effects, and the handling of methadone were analyzed.
RESULTS
RESULTS
A total of 11 children were identified and studied. Methadone was introduced mainly when pain was uncontrolled by regular opioids. Initial daily doses ranged from 1 to 15 mg. The duration of treatment ranged from 7 to 307, with a median of 50 days in the nine patients where treatment exceeded one single dosage. Good analgesic effect was reported in 5/9 children, unchanged from previous analgesic treatment in three patients and without any effect in one child. No severe side effects were reported.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Low-dose methadone in the treatment of pediatric cancer pain at a low-resource cancer center was safe and well tolerated by the patients, with long treatment durations. It was safely managed, administered with single to double daily dosages, hence easy for patients and family to handle, and an affordable treatment option.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34035631
doi: 10.4103/IJPC.IJPC_109_20
pii: IJPC-27-133
pmc: PMC8121219
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
133-138Informations de copyright
Copyright: © 2021 Indian Journal of Palliative Care.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
There are no conflicts of interest.
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