Paracetamol in Addition to WHO Step III Opioids in Chronic Cancer Pain Control (ParOP)

Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern

Status and phase

Enrolling

Phase 4

Conditions

Pain

Treatments

Drug: Placebo

Drug: Paracetamol

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT05088876

BASEC-ID: 2021-01518

Details and patient eligibility

About

Blinded withdrawal of regular co-medication with paracetamol in chronic pain patients under strong opioids on pain control.

Full description

Chronic pain patients receiving a strong opioid in combination with paracetamol in a minimum dose of 1.5 g/day will be randomized to receive either paracetamol in the dose already prescribed (group "paracetamol") or an identically looking placebo (group "placebo") using the same schedule during the first study phase (days 1-7). In the second study phase (days 8-14) paracetamol or placebo will be stopped in both arms to assess the effect of pill withdrawal on pain control.

Next to baseline the patients will be instructed to use a pain diary to rate their pain during the study and also document the required opioid rescue doses. Further assessments will include adverse events, subjective ratings of quality of sleep, overall feeling of functioning and quality of life. At the screening visit, patients will also be asked to rate their expected changes in pain relief as a result of co-treatment with paracetamol. At the completion of the study, patients will be asked about their preference and whether, overall, they felt their pain was more poorly controlled during the study.

Adherence will be checked by pill count and measurement of paracetamol blood concentrations. Genotyping of OPRM1, COMT and relevant CYP enzymes and opioid blood concentrations will be assessed as co-variates for pain control.

Enrollment

140 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Male and female patients receiving a WHO step III opioid (i.e. morphine, oxycodone, methadone, fentanyl, hydromorphone, or buprenorphine) in combination with paracetamol (minimum dose 1.5 g/day)
Age ≥ 18 at screening
Ability to understand the study procedures and to provide written informed consent
Stable analgesia before randomisation, defined as no required changes in the analgesic treatment during the previous 7 days

Exclusion criteria

Participation in another interventional trial within 30 days prior to randomisation, with the exception of cancer treatment trials
Changes of the dosage or start of other (co-)analgesics (e.g. tricyclic antidepressants, neuroleptics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), dipyrone), within the last 7 days preceding randomisation
Surgery within the 14 days preceding randomisation or surgery planned within the duration of the study
Any circumstances, comorbidities or conditions, which, in the opinion of the investigator, may affect full participation in the study or compliance with the study protocol