This Article Full Text (OnlineFirst PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Chiou, T.-J. Articles by Chen, Y.-J. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chiou, T.-J. Articles by Chen, Y.-J. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The Use of Transdermal Fentanyl in Cancer Pain : A Compliance Study of Outpatients in Taiwan

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: tjchiou{at}vghtpe.gov.tw.

	Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate cancer patients' response and side effects associated with transdermal therapeutic fentanyl (TTS-F), whose pain was hardly controlled by nonweak/weak opioids in Taiwan. From 2005 to 2006, 822 outpatients received TTS-F to collect pain assessment forms and diaries for 4 weeks. Most (78.7%) patients were initially prescribed 25 μg/h TTS-F. Doses were adjusted weekly at clinicians' discretion, according to pain assessment and side effects. Patients receiving 50 μg/h, 75 μg/h, and > 75 μg/h TTS-F had increased from 17.5% to 32.1%, 1.8% to 3.4%, and 1.9% to 2.2%, respectively, by week 2; further small increases were found in weeks 3 and 4. Pain palliation improved from 60.6% during week 1 to 78.6% at week 4. The common adverse effects were nausea/vomiting. Patient’s compliance was >90%. This study found that the TTS-F is effective and well tolerated.

First published on October 2, 2009
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® 2009, doi:10.1177/1049909109346427


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?