A recent study led by the University of Sydney has brought to light some surprising findings about the effectiveness of opioids in managing cancer pain.
This review, which scrutinizes the data on opioids for cancer-related pain, challenges the widespread belief that opioids are the most potent pain relievers for cancer patients.
The review urges healthcare professionals and patients to consider a more individualized approach to cancer pain management, rather than relying on a ‘one size fits all’ strategy.
Opioids, including morphine, oxycodone, and methadone, are commonly prescribed for cancer pain, with many international guidelines, including those from the World Health Organization, advocating their use for both constant and temporary flare-ups of pain.
However, the study reveals a significant lack of trials comparing these common opioid medicines to a placebo, especially for background cancer pain outside of end-of-life care.
This finding is striking because morphine is often seen as the ‘gold standard’ for cancer pain treatment due to its affordability and accessibility.
Interestingly, the review also found that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and diclofenac could be just as effective as some opioids for managing background cancer pain.
This suggests that there may be more viable and potentially less risky alternatives to opioids.
Lead researcher Dr. Christina Abdel Shaheed from the University of Sydney emphasizes the ethical and logistical challenges of conducting trials that compare opioid medicines to a placebo. Yet, she points out that such trials are essential for informed clinical decision-making.
Co-author Professor Jane Ballantyne from the University of Washington School of Medicine acknowledges the indispensable role of opioids in managing intractable pain and distress at life’s end.
However, she highlights the effectiveness of non-opioids, particularly NSAIDs, in some cancer pain scenarios, which might avoid issues like dependence and diminishing pain relief over time associated with opioids.
Professor Martin Underwood from the University of Warwick adds that for people with ongoing cancer pain, focusing less on opioids might lead to a better overall life experience.
The study’s senior author, Dr. Mark Sidhom from the Cancer Therapy Centre at Liverpool Hospital in Australia, hopes that these findings will guide doctors and patients in choosing between different opioid treatments.
He also suggests that this new understanding should empower individuals to consider alternatives, especially if they are unable to tolerate or prefer not to take opioid medicines.
In conclusion, this groundbreaking study calls for a reevaluation of cancer pain management strategies, encouraging a move towards more personalized and potentially safer alternatives to opioids.
This approach could not only provide effective pain relief but also improve the overall quality of life for cancer patients.
If you care about pain management, please read studies about Scientists find a new drug for chronic nerve pain and findings of Scientists find a new, less-invasive way to tackle knee pain.
For more information about pain, please see recent studies about why people with red hair respond differently to pain than others, and results showing this drug may relieve painful ‘long covid’ symptoms.
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