Intrathecal Ziconotide and Morphine for Pain Relief: A Case Series of Eight Patients with Refractory Cancer Pain, Including Five Cases of Neuropathic Pain.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Studies have shown that, at low doses and with careful titration, combination therapy with intrathecal ziconotide and morphine results in rapid control of opioid-refractory cancer pain. However, there is a lack of published data regarding the efficacy and safety of intrathecal ziconotide specifically for the treatment of neuropathic cancer pain.

Case series

Case reports of ziconotide intrathecal infusion in eight patients (age 45-71 years; 75% male) with chronic, uncontrolled cancer pain during therapy with intrathecal morphine plus bupivacaine were reviewed. Neuropathic pain was confirmed in five patients. Treatment was initiated with adjunctive ziconotide when pain ≥5 on a visual analog scale persisted in spite of 3 successive 20% dose increases of intrathecal

SUBMITTER: de la Calle Gil AB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4685866 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature