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. 2007 Feb;57(1):19-31.
doi: 10.1590/s0034-70942007000100003.

Assessment of oral S+ ketamine associated with morphine for the treatment of oncologic pain

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Pedro Ishizuka  1 , João Batista Santos Garcia, Rioko Kimiko Sakata, Adriana Machado Issy, Sílvia Letícia Mülich
Affiliations

Assessment of oral S+ ketamine associated with morphine for the treatment of oncologic pain

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Pedro Ishizuka et al. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2007 Feb.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Morphine is used frequently to treat oncologic pain. However, tolerance may develop with prolonged use. The association of a NMDA receptor antagonist may reduce or delay the onset of tolerance. S(+) ketamine seems to be more potent and with fewer side effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of S(+) ketamine and morphine in the treatment of oncologic pain.

Methods: Thirty patients, randomly divided in two groups, participated in this double-blind study. Patients in G1 received 10 mg of morphine PO every 6 hours and 10 mg of S(+) ketamine PO every 8 hours. Patients in G2 received 10 mg of morphine PO every 6 hours and placebo PO every 8 hours. The dose of morphine was adjusted by 5 mg increments whenever necessary. Pain severity was evaluated through a verbal scale.

Results: The percentage of no pain and mild pain was similar in both groups (G1 = 0 and G2 = 0 at M0; G1 = 22.2 and G2 = 53.8 at M1; G1 = 22.2 and G2 = 61.5 at M2; G1 = 44.6 and G2 = 61.5 at M3; and G1 = 44.5 and G2 = 53.8 at M4); Chi-square test. The percentage of moderate relief and complete relief was similar in both groups (G1 = 33.4 and G2 = 53.9 after one week; G1 = 44.4 and G2 = 69.2 after two weeks; G1 = 66.6 and G2 = 69.2 after three weeks; and G1 = 55.6 and G2 = 53.9 after four weeks); Chi-square test. The need to increase the dose of morphine was also similar in both groups (G1 = 2.22 and G2 = 2.15); Mann-Whitney test.

Conclusions: We did not observe an increase on the analgesic effects of morphine with the association of 10 mg of S(+) ketamine PO in the treatment of oncologic pain.

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