Abstract
Objective: To examine the clinical significance of an opioid, tapentadol, for cancer pain relief including its analgesic effects and indications based on our clinical experience. Methods: We retrospectively studied 31 patients receiving tapentadol in our hospital. Results: In 19 successfully treated patients, the numerical rating scale (NRS) scores showed a significant decrease in pain, and the doses at the start and completion of administration were 73.7±25.6 mg (morphine equivalent dose: 30 mg or less) and 125±49.3 mg, respectively. Six successfully treated patients showed improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms. The results of the comparison between successfully and unsuccessfully treated patients suggested titration to be difficult in patients with mixture of somatic pain and neuropathic pain. Conclusion: Based on our clinical experience, we consider tapentadol to be easy to use during the introductory period after treatment with non-opioids or low-dose opioids.
