Controlling cancer pain is an important part of cancer treatment and management. Of the variety of medications available to treat cancer pain, methadone has proven to bean excellent option for combating moderate-to-severe pain. Methadone is an effective, long-lasting opioid medication that is inexpensive and relatively safe [1]. Methadone is the only long-lasting opioid medication available in liquid form. Therefore, it is the easiest opioid medication to administer because it can be given to a patient orally, intravenously, through the rectum, a skin injection or a stomach tube. Since methadone provides long-lasting pain relief (its half-life is anywhere from 16-60 hours), this type of medication can accumulate in the body and potentially cause overdose [1]. To prevent this from happening, it is important for all patients to be monitored by a qualified physician and to start the medication slowly and at lower doses [1].
Even though methadone is an effective long-lasting pain medication, some patients cannot tolerate it well. The only other long-lasting pain medication on the market is tapentadol: a centrally acting analgesic medication that provides up to 12 hours of pain relief. The FDA approved tapentadol in 2009. It is an effective medication to treat moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis, diabetic neuropathy, or low back pain [2]. To date, there is no research published on the effects of tapentadol for the treatment of cancer pain. There is only one case report about the successful switching from methadone totapentadol by a cancer patient [3].
Choosing to take tapentadol to treat cancer pain should be discussed between patient and physician. If it is determined that no other medication is effective to treat the pain experienced by the cancer patient, tapentadol can be considered. However, it is important to know that there is no research published investigating either the effectiveness or the side effects of tapentadol in cancer patients [2].
*DISCLAIMER: These are not medical diagnoses or suggestions for any specificindividuals. They are an overview of various conditions, treatments and topics discussedby New York Pain Management Group. If you would like to discuss your symptoms ingreater detail, do not hesitate to contact the New York Pain Management Group. To learnmore about treatment options for this and other pain conditions, contact us today atwww.nopainny.com or call at 1-888-789-NOPAIN! We will be happy to assist you