UI - 000173

AU - Zenz M

AU - Strumpf M

AU - Tryba M

TI - Long-term oral opioid therapy in patients with chronic nonmalignant pain

AB - In contrast to the use of opioids for the treatment of acute and chronic cancer pain, the administration

of chronic opioid therapy for pain not due to malignancy remains controversial. We describe 100 patients

who were chronically given opioids for treatment of nonmalignant pain. Most patients experienced

neuropathic pain or back pain. We used sustained-release dihydrocodeine, buprenorphine, and sustained-

release morphine. Pain reduction was measured with visual analogue scales (VAS), and the Karnofsky

Performance Status Scale was used to assess the patient's function. Good pain relief was obtained in 51

patients and partial pain relief was reported by 28 patients. Only 21 patients had no beneficial effect from

opioid therapy. There was a close correlation between the sum and the peak VAS values (r = 0.983; p less

than 0.0001) and pain reduction was associated with an increase in performance (p less than 0.0001). The

most common side effects were constipation and nausea. There were no cases of respiratory

depression or addiction to opioids. Our results indicate that opioids can be effective in chronic

nonmalignant pain, with side effects that are comparable to those that complicate the treatment of cancer

pain

SO - Journal of Pain & Symptom Management 1992;7:69-7