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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 2/2018

Open Access 01-02-2018 | Original Article

Fentanyl buccal tablet for breakthrough cancer pain in clinical practice: results of the non-interventional prospective study ErkentNIS

Authors: Eva Katharina Masel, Robert Landthaler, Margit Gneist, Herbert Hans Watzke

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 2/2018

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Abstract

Purpose

Several patients with advanced cancer suffer from breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP). BTcP is pain exacerbation despite opioid baseline therapy. Fentanyl buccal tablet (FBT) is a rapid-onset opioid for the treatment of BTcP. The aim of this study is to document the feasibility of FBT in patients with BTcP.

Methods

The study was performed in 64 centers. Basic pain score was rated on a numeric rating scale (NRS) before and after treatment. BTcP episodes, baseline opioid therapy, and FBT dose were rated as well as individual dose titration, findings on tolerability, patient satisfaction, and safety of the drug.

Results

Two hundred sixty-three patients were available for analysis. Patients rated a basic pain score of 6 (range 2–10) points on an NRS and described an average of 2 to 5 BTcP episodes per day. After titration of FBT, BTcP control was achieved within 5 min in 36%, within 10 min in 68%, and within 15 min in 95%. Basic pain score decreased to a mean NRS of 4 and BTcP episodes decreased to < 1 to 3 episodes per day. BTcP control, onset of action of FBT, potency of FBT, tolerability of FBT, and safety of FBT were rated as excellent or good by 89 to 99% of the patients. Adverse drug reactions were registered in 3%.

Conclusions

Treatment with FBT led to rapid pain relief and reductions in the number of BTcP episodes and patient satisfaction was rated as excellent or good.
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Metadata
Title
Fentanyl buccal tablet for breakthrough cancer pain in clinical practice: results of the non-interventional prospective study ErkentNIS
Authors
Eva Katharina Masel
Robert Landthaler
Margit Gneist
Herbert Hans Watzke
Publication date
01-02-2018
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 2/2018
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3853-y

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