Abstract
Purpose: From shortly after the fentanyl patch became commercially available, we have been using it as part of our armamentarium for cancer therapy to produce a reliable analgesic effect from the active treatment period to the terminal stage in patients who are expected to develop resistance to oral analgesics. To confirm the usefulness of fentanyl patch, a retrospective study was conducted to determine its efficacy and safety. Method: A survey was conducted of 28 cancer patients who were undergoing pharmacological pain control. The following parameters were recorded: opioids administered prior to fentanyl patch use, reasons for switching to fentanyl patch, duration of administration and dosage of fentanyl patch, pain score before switching to fentanyl patch, adverse effects (nausea, vomiting, constipation and drowsiness), and the results of clinical tests. Results: The major reasons for switching to fentanyl patch were: "pain control with oral agents was expected to become difficult in future" and "adverse effects of chemotherapy were noted or were likely to develop". The mean duration of fentanyl patch use was 133 days, during which time the pain score and the constipation symptom were significantly reduced. No significant difference was found with nausea, vomiting, drowsiness or the results of clinical tests. Conclusion: It is concluded that fentanyl patch is a highly useful opioid for analgesia when administered during chemotherapy for cancer and continued to the terminal stage.
