Opiod Patch for Pediatric Patients

A transdermal patch that delivers the opiod fentanyl to control pain has been found safe for use by children aged two to 16 years, according to a study in the December 15, 2005, issue of Cancer.

Very little is known about pain experience and the safety and efficacy of opoids in children. At one time, children were thought to have a higher risk addiction than adults. New findings show that they are no more at risk than adults, but may not easily accept an injection or pill for pain.

Researchers from the Children's National Medical Center (Washington, DC, USA) and international colleagues examined 173 children, aged two to16 years. Many were cancer patients or had a history of chronic pain and prior opiod use. They were transitioned to the use of the fentanyl patch, adjusted to equal the concentration in their previous doses, and followed for 15 days.

The study found that subjective pain and the quality of life of the children improved. By day 16, the average daily pain intensity score decreased. After one month, quality-of-life scores increased; and after three months, average play performance scores also improved. There were no more adverse experiences than reported by adults and none specific for the pediatric population.

"Results from global measurements of pain treatment, safety, and quality of life indicate that transdermal fentanyl is an acceptable alternative to oral opiod therapy in children,” wrote the authors. An opioid patch, such as fentanyl, "is especially useful for good pain management in children with life-threatening conditions in which oral or injectable routes of drug delivery are difficult to administer or add further distress.”




Related Links:
Children's National Med. Center