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Tramadol in the Treatment of Neuropathic Cancer Pain

A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

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Abstract

Objective: To assess the efficacy, safety and impact on quality of life of tramadol in the treatment of neuropathic pain in patients with cancer.

Methods: Patients with similar characteristics were grouped in pairs and randomised to receive either tramadol or placebo. The initial tramadol dosage was 1 mg/kg every 6 hours, increasing to 1.5 mg/kg every 6 hours if necessary to control pain.

Results: The study enrolled 36 patients (22 women, 14 men), with a mean age of 50 years. In the group receiving tramadol (n = 18), major improvements in pain intensity and Karnofsky scores occurred (p < 0.001), sleep quality improved by day 45 (p < 0.05) activities of daily living improved (p < 0.05), and use of analgesics that had been taken before the study was reduced (p < 0.05) compared with the placebo group. There was no difference between the groups with regard to changes in the Zung Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory scores and neurophysiological assessments. More patients in the tramadol group experienced adverse events (p < 0.05). The most common adverse events were nausea, vomiting and constipation.

Conclusions: Tramadol is a therapeutic option for the control of neuropathic pain in patients with cancer, and appears to improve quality of life in these patients. The analgesic effect of tramadol is independent of changes in anxiety, depression and nervous system function.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Grunenthal Laboratories, Peru, through the provision of drugs for the study. No other funding was received. The authors thank Claudio Flores from the Medicine Department at Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas for his statistical assistance and kind support. The authors have no potential conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the conduct of this study or the content of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service of Neuro-Oncology at the National Cancer Institute, Lima, Peru

    Daniel Arbaiza

  2. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas, Av. Angamos Este 2520, Lima, 34, Peru

    Oscar Vidal

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  1. Daniel Arbaiza
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  2. Oscar Vidal
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Correspondence to Daniel Arbaiza.

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Arbaiza, D., Vidal, O. Tramadol in the Treatment of Neuropathic Cancer Pain. Clin. Drug Investig. 27, 75–83 (2007). https://doi.org/10.2165/00044011-200727010-00007

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