Opioid Rotation From Morphine to Methadone in Treatment of Non-malignant Pain

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 3

Conditions: Non-malignant Chronic Pain

Treatments: Drug: Methadone

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00356083

188-03REK

Details and patient eligibility

About

Patients with non-malignant pain are switched from morphine to methadone with a nine-months' follow-up.

Full description

Twelve patients with poor pain control or unacceptable side effects during treatment with morphine were switched to methadone and followed for nine months in this open prospective study. Primary outcomes were patient preference for opioid and pain control while physical, cognitive and role functioning were secondary outcomes. The morphine dose was decreased by 1/3 daily and was replaced with an equianalgesic dose of methadone over a three-day period. During switching and a one-week dose titration period, patients were given additional methadone if required. During dose titration one patient experienced sedation requiring naloxone. Four patients were switched back to morphine due to poor pain control, drowsiness or sweating. Seven patients preferred long-term (>nine months) treatment with methadone and reported reduced pain and improved functioning while cognition was not improved. This study brings novel information on the long-term consequences for pain control, health-related quality of life and cognitive functioning with a switch from morphine to methadone in the treatment of chronic non-malignant pain.

Enrollment: 12 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18-70 years of age
• non-malignant chronic pain
• morphine use

Exclusion criteria

• addiction
• kidney disorders

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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12 participants in 1 patient group

switch from morphine to methadon

Experimental group

Treatment:

Drug: Methadone