Morphine is the dominant medication to control cancer pain. Morphine consumption has been increasing each year in many countries including Japan based on the understanding of the WHO report on the treatment of cancer pain. To evaluate the recent and current state of palliative medication for cancer patients in Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University (TMPU) Hospital, the amount of and trend in the use of morphine preparations from 1992 to 2001 were investigated. The amount used increased every year to 3.9-fold of that in 1992 at the end of this survey. Inpurticalar, the consumption of morphine sulfate sustained-release tablets and morphine hydrochloride injection increased markedly, because both total dose in individual patients and the number of patients treated with high-dose morphine increased. The distribution of the maximum daily dose in TMPU Hospital was similar to that in a specialist hospital in oncology. In conclusion, morphine consumption will increase to achieve better palliative care and to improve quality of life in cancer patients, and therefore appropriate use and regulation of narcotic preparations are necessary.
