Safety and Efficacy of Combined Injection of Pure-μ-Opioid Agonist with Tramadol as an Opioid Induction Agent for Opioid-Naïve Cancer Patients

Background: Tramadol is known to provide synergistic analgesia when used in combination with morphine. Objectives: The aims of this study were: (1) to introduce an opioid combination therapy using pure-μ-opioid receptor agonist (OPI) + tramadol injections (OPI + tramadol) and (2) to elucidate safety...

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Main Authors: Tetsumi Sato, Shigeki Ono, Tetsu Sato, Rei Tanaka, Yoshiko Kamo, Tomomi Suzuki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mary Ann Liebert 2024-10-01
Series:Palliative Medicine Reports
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Online Access:https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pmr.2023.0061
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author Tetsumi Sato
Shigeki Ono
Tetsu Sato
Rei Tanaka
Yoshiko Kamo
Tomomi Suzuki
author_facet Tetsumi Sato
Shigeki Ono
Tetsu Sato
Rei Tanaka
Yoshiko Kamo
Tomomi Suzuki
author_sort Tetsumi Sato
collection DOAJ
description Background: Tramadol is known to provide synergistic analgesia when used in combination with morphine. Objectives: The aims of this study were: (1) to introduce an opioid combination therapy using pure-μ-opioid receptor agonist (OPI) + tramadol injections (OPI + tramadol) and (2) to elucidate safety and efficacy of this combination therapy for opioid-naïve cancer pain patients. Methods: Opioid-naïve patients referred to our palliative care team (in Japan) who were unable to take oral medications and received OPI + tramadol as opioid induction agents were retrospectively investigated on the electric medical chart. OPI + tramadol dosage was adjusted to achieve the patient’s pain as Numerical Rating Scale ≤4/10 or Support Team Assessment Schedule-Japanese ≤1. Patients’ demography, doses of OPI and tramadol administered, and adverse events were analyzed. Results: A total of 44 patients were included. The primary organs of malignancy were pancreas (11), stomach (5), lung (4), breast (4), liver (4), and others (13). OPI injections administered were hydromorphone (39), morphine (6), oxycodone (1), and fentanyl (1). The starting doses of OPI (morphine equivalent) and tramadol were 6.05 ± 1.63 and 67.8 ± 13.6 mg/day, respectively, and the final doses of OPI (morphine equivalent) and tramadol were 8.14 ± 3.85 and 80.0 ± 28.5 mg/day, respectively. Treatment goals were achieved in all patients. There were three patients in whom OPI was switched owing to inadequate analgesia and no new side effects other than those known to occur when OPI or tramadol is administered appeared. Conclusion: The results suggest that this innovative and unique opioid therapy can be safely and effectively introduced to opioid-naïve cancer patients who are relatively close to the end of life.
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series Palliative Medicine Reports
spelling doaj-art-e37b85389cf34a8fbc71870b69a5ceee2025-08-20T03:49:37ZengMary Ann LiebertPalliative Medicine Reports2689-28202024-10-015134034910.1089/pmr.2023.0061Safety and Efficacy of Combined Injection of Pure-μ-Opioid Agonist with Tramadol as an Opioid Induction Agent for Opioid-Naïve Cancer PatientsTetsumi Sato0Shigeki Ono1Tetsu Sato2Rei Tanaka3Yoshiko Kamo4Tomomi Suzuki5Division of Palliative Medicine, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan.Division of Palliative Medicine, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan.Palliative Care Team, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan.Palliative Care Team, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan.Palliative Care Team, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan.Palliative Care Team, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan.Background: Tramadol is known to provide synergistic analgesia when used in combination with morphine. Objectives: The aims of this study were: (1) to introduce an opioid combination therapy using pure-μ-opioid receptor agonist (OPI) + tramadol injections (OPI + tramadol) and (2) to elucidate safety and efficacy of this combination therapy for opioid-naïve cancer pain patients. Methods: Opioid-naïve patients referred to our palliative care team (in Japan) who were unable to take oral medications and received OPI + tramadol as opioid induction agents were retrospectively investigated on the electric medical chart. OPI + tramadol dosage was adjusted to achieve the patient’s pain as Numerical Rating Scale ≤4/10 or Support Team Assessment Schedule-Japanese ≤1. Patients’ demography, doses of OPI and tramadol administered, and adverse events were analyzed. Results: A total of 44 patients were included. The primary organs of malignancy were pancreas (11), stomach (5), lung (4), breast (4), liver (4), and others (13). OPI injections administered were hydromorphone (39), morphine (6), oxycodone (1), and fentanyl (1). The starting doses of OPI (morphine equivalent) and tramadol were 6.05 ± 1.63 and 67.8 ± 13.6 mg/day, respectively, and the final doses of OPI (morphine equivalent) and tramadol were 8.14 ± 3.85 and 80.0 ± 28.5 mg/day, respectively. Treatment goals were achieved in all patients. There were three patients in whom OPI was switched owing to inadequate analgesia and no new side effects other than those known to occur when OPI or tramadol is administered appeared. Conclusion: The results suggest that this innovative and unique opioid therapy can be safely and effectively introduced to opioid-naïve cancer patients who are relatively close to the end of life.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pmr.2023.0061cancer painμ-opioid receptor agonistopioid combination therapyopioid naïvetramadol
spellingShingle Tetsumi Sato
Shigeki Ono
Tetsu Sato
Rei Tanaka
Yoshiko Kamo
Tomomi Suzuki
Safety and Efficacy of Combined Injection of Pure-μ-Opioid Agonist with Tramadol as an Opioid Induction Agent for Opioid-Naïve Cancer Patients
Palliative Medicine Reports
cancer pain
μ-opioid receptor agonist
opioid combination therapy
opioid naïve
tramadol
title Safety and Efficacy of Combined Injection of Pure-μ-Opioid Agonist with Tramadol as an Opioid Induction Agent for Opioid-Naïve Cancer Patients
title_full Safety and Efficacy of Combined Injection of Pure-μ-Opioid Agonist with Tramadol as an Opioid Induction Agent for Opioid-Naïve Cancer Patients
title_fullStr Safety and Efficacy of Combined Injection of Pure-μ-Opioid Agonist with Tramadol as an Opioid Induction Agent for Opioid-Naïve Cancer Patients
title_full_unstemmed Safety and Efficacy of Combined Injection of Pure-μ-Opioid Agonist with Tramadol as an Opioid Induction Agent for Opioid-Naïve Cancer Patients
title_short Safety and Efficacy of Combined Injection of Pure-μ-Opioid Agonist with Tramadol as an Opioid Induction Agent for Opioid-Naïve Cancer Patients
title_sort safety and efficacy of combined injection of pure μ opioid agonist with tramadol as an opioid induction agent for opioid naive cancer patients
topic cancer pain
μ-opioid receptor agonist
opioid combination therapy
opioid naïve
tramadol
url https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pmr.2023.0061
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