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The Association of Palliative Medicine for Great Britain and Ireland (APM) recognises that the rescue medication of choice in the management of BTcP is opioids. Their guidelines state that the choice of opioid preparation should be determined by consideration of the following factors:1

  • Characteristics of pain (speed of onset and duration of episode)
  • Product characteristics (pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics)
  • Patient’s previous response to opioids (efficacy and tolerability)
  • Patient preference for individual preparation

However, breakthrough cancer pain is usually relatively short in duration, rapid in its onset and sometimes hard to predict,2 indicating the need for an analgesic with both a fast onset and a short duration of effect.3

Oral opioids vs. transmucosal fentanyl for the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP)

To watch the other videos in this series, and for more information on Kyowa Kirin’s products for the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain vs. oral opioids, click here.

Abstral® (fentanyl (as citrate)) is indicated for the management of breakthrough pain in adult patients using opioid therapy for chronic cancer pain. PecFent® (fentanyl citrate) is indicated for the management of breakthrough pain in adults who are already receiving maintenance opioid therapy for chronic cancer pain. Breakthrough pain is a transient exacerbation of otherwise controlled chronic background pain. Please note not all medicines containing opioids are authorised for all types of pain indication. Refer to the summary of product characteristics before prescribing. For advice on the responsible use of opioids, including those indicated for other types of pain, please click here

Average:

  • References

    1. Davies AN, et al. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2018;8(3):241-249.

    2. Mercadante S, et al. Cancers. 2018;10(6):175.

    3. Mercadante S, et al. Drugs. 2021;13(5):1058.

    KKI/UK/ABS/0012 November 2023