Treatment with subcutaneous and transdermal fentanyl: results from a population pharmacokinetic study in cancer patients.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Transdermal fentanyl is effective for the treatment of moderate to severe cancer-related pain but is unsuitable for fast titration. In this setting, continuous subcutaneous fentanyl may be used. As data on the pharmacokinetics of continuous subcutaneous fentanyl are lacking, we studied the pharmacokinetics of subcutaneous and transdermal fentanyl. Furthermore, we evaluated rotations from the subcutaneous to the transdermal route.

Methods

Fifty-two patients treated with subcutaneous and/or transdermal fentanyl for moderate to severe cancer-related pain participated. A population pharmacokinetic model was developed and evaluated using non-linear mixed-effects modelling. For rotations from subcutaneous to transdermal fentanyl, a 1:1 dose conversion ratio was used while

SUBMITTER: Oosten AW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4792338 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature