CONTROL OF CANCER-RELATED PAIN WITH MS CONTIN(R) - A COMPARISON BETWEEN 12-HOURLY AND AND 8-HOURLY ADMINISTRATION

Nineteen cancer patients with chronic pain of moderate to severe inten sity were randomized in a double-blind manner to 5 days of either 8-ho urly or 12-hourly administration of controlled-release morphine (MS Co ntin, MSC) followed by the alternate schedule for 5 days. The control of pain, using an average dose of 303.4 +/- 254.4 mg/day of MSC, was g ood during both the 8-hourly and 12-hourly phases, and the mean daily pain intensity measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) pain relief (VA S) and global efficacy scores did not differ when compared by treatmen t schedule. The need for supplemental ''rescue'' morphine was infreque nt and did not differ between treatment phases (8-hourly, 0.7 +/- 0.7 and 12-hourly, 0.6 +/- 0.6 doses per day, p=0.6232). The overall frequ ency and severity of adverse events did not differ between the two dos ing schedules. A majority of patients (67%) reported that they believe d that 12-hourly dosing was a moderate or great advantage over 8-hourl y dosing.