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The use of methadone in pediatric cancer pain - a retrospective study from a governmental cancer center in India

Palat, Gayatri ; Algotsson, Charlotte LU ; Rayala, Spandana ; Haridass, Vikranth ; Nethagani, Jaya ; Rapelli, Vineela ; Gebre-Medhin, Maria LU ; Brun, Eva LU and Segerlantz, Mikael LU (2021) In Indian Journal of Palliative Care 27(1). p.133-138
Abstract
Background: The management of cancer-related pain relies on access to opioids. When regular opioids are not tolerated, or are insufficient, methadone is an affordable and effective analgesic. Aim: The aim of the project was to describe the pattern of use and clinical experience of methadone in pediatric cancer pain at a governmental cancer hospital in Hyderabad, one of the four Indian cancer centers with permission to prescribe methadone. Methods: This was a retrospective study of medical records of all children, under the age of 18, who had been prescribed methadone from September 9, 2017, to November 19, 2019. Data on analgesic effect, prior and concomitant analgesic treatment, opioid side effects, and the handling of methadone were... (More)
Background: The management of cancer-related pain relies on access to opioids. When regular opioids are not tolerated, or are insufficient, methadone is an affordable and effective analgesic. Aim: The aim of the project was to describe the pattern of use and clinical experience of methadone in pediatric cancer pain at a governmental cancer hospital in Hyderabad, one of the four Indian cancer centers with permission to prescribe methadone. Methods: This was a retrospective study of medical records of all children, under the age of 18, who had been prescribed methadone from September 9, 2017, to November 19, 2019. Data on analgesic effect, prior and concomitant analgesic treatment, opioid side effects, and the handling of methadone were analyzed. Results: A total of 11 children were identified and studied. Methadone was introduced mainly when pain was uncontrolled by regular opioids. Initial daily doses ranged from 1 to 15 mg. The duration of treatment ranged from 7 to 307, with a median of 50 days in the nine patients where treatment exceeded one single dosage. Good analgesic effect was reported in 5/9 children, unchanged from previous analgesic treatment in three patients and without any effect in one child. No severe side effects were reported. Conclusion: Low-dose methadone in the treatment of pediatric cancer pain at a low-resource cancer center was safe and well tolerated by the patients, with long treatment durations. It was safely managed, administered with single to double daily dosages, hence easy for patients and family to handle, and an affordable treatment option. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
methadone, pediatric cancer, Pain management
in
Indian Journal of Palliative Care
volume
27
issue
1
pages
133 - 138
publisher
Wolters Kluwer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85101975649
ISSN
0973-1075
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
98ebb9a3-9950-40dd-8ece-203ba9750337
alternative location
https://www.jpalliativecare.com/text.asp?2021/27/1/133/309056
date added to LUP
2021-04-29 16:01:34
date last changed
2023-11-13 15:51:45
@article{98ebb9a3-9950-40dd-8ece-203ba9750337,
  abstract     = {{Background: The management of cancer-related pain relies on access to opioids. When regular opioids are not tolerated, or are insufficient, methadone is an affordable and effective analgesic. Aim: The aim of the project was to describe the pattern of use and clinical experience of methadone in pediatric cancer pain at a governmental cancer hospital in Hyderabad, one of the four Indian cancer centers with permission to prescribe methadone. Methods: This was a retrospective study of medical records of all children, under the age of 18, who had been prescribed methadone from September 9, 2017, to November 19, 2019. Data on analgesic effect, prior and concomitant analgesic treatment, opioid side effects, and the handling of methadone were analyzed. Results: A total of 11 children were identified and studied. Methadone was introduced mainly when pain was uncontrolled by regular opioids. Initial daily doses ranged from 1 to 15 mg. The duration of treatment ranged from 7 to 307, with a median of 50 days in the nine patients where treatment exceeded one single dosage. Good analgesic effect was reported in 5/9 children, unchanged from previous analgesic treatment in three patients and without any effect in one child. No severe side effects were reported. Conclusion: Low-dose methadone in the treatment of pediatric cancer pain at a low-resource cancer center was safe and well tolerated by the patients, with long treatment durations. It was safely managed, administered with single to double daily dosages, hence easy for patients and family to handle, and an affordable treatment option.}},
  author       = {{Palat, Gayatri and Algotsson, Charlotte and Rayala, Spandana and Haridass, Vikranth and Nethagani, Jaya and Rapelli, Vineela and Gebre-Medhin, Maria and Brun, Eva and Segerlantz, Mikael}},
  issn         = {{0973-1075}},
  keywords     = {{methadone; pediatric cancer; Pain management}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{133--138}},
  publisher    = {{Wolters Kluwer}},
  series       = {{Indian Journal of Palliative Care}},
  title        = {{The use of methadone in pediatric cancer pain - a retrospective study from a governmental cancer center in India}},
  url          = {{https://www.jpalliativecare.com/text.asp?2021/27/1/133/309056}},
  volume       = {{27}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}