A Comparison of the Clinical Effectiveness Between Low-Dose Strong Opioids and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in the Treatment of Mild Cancer Pain: A Randomized Trial

Abstract

Mei-Zuo Liu,1 Jian Ma,2 Jun-Dong Li,1 Jing Sun,1 Hua Zhou,1 Shuo Guan,1 Ying Han,1 Xia Zhang,3 Ji-Lai Bian1 1Department of Oncology, The Fifth People’s Hospital of Dalian, Dalian, 116000, People’s Republic of China; 2Intensive Care Unit, The Fifth People’s Hospital of Dalian, Dalian, 116000, People’s Republic of China; 3Medical Examination Center, The Fifth People’s Hospital of Dalian, Dalian, 116000, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ji-Lai BianDepartment of Oncology, The Fifth People’s Hospital of Dalian, No. 890 of Huanghe Street, Shahekou District, Dalian, 116000, People’s Republic of ChinaTel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [email protected]: The present study aims to explore the effectiveness and safety of low-dose strong opioids compared with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the treatment of mild cancer pain.Methods: From September 2016 to September 2018, 66 patients with a malignant tumor and mild cancer pain admitted to the Department of Oncology of Dalian Fifth People’s Hospital were divided into the group A (treated with ibuprofen sustained-release tablets for pain relief) and the group B (treated with oxycodone hydrochloride sustained-release tablets for pain relief). After 7 days of treatment, the pain relief (Numeric Rating Scale [NRS]), physical strength, quality of life scores (Zubrod/ECOG/WHO [ZPS]), the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System [ESAS], and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core15-Palliative [EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL] scores), and the occurrence of adverse reactions between the two groups were compared. The occurrence of adverse reactions in the mid-term (after one month and three months of treatment) between the two groups were also compared.Results: Both groups had over 90% analgesic efficiency, but complete pain relief was more likely to be obtained in the group B (41.18%). The total analgesic efficiency in the group B was higher (100%) than in the group A (98.9%), and the difference was statistically significant (P 0.05).Conclusion: The application of low-dose oxycodone hydrochloride sustained-release tablets as the initial medication for patients with mild cancer pain was safe and effective, and the adverse reactions were easy to manage.Keywords: oxycodone hydrochloride sustained-release tablet, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, mild cancer pain, clinical effect

Keywords

• oxycodone hydrochloride sustained-release tablet
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• mild cancer pain
• clinical effect