Pain Relieving Patch for Children
Reported November 21, 2005

 

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- There may be a new option for treating severe pain in children. New research shows using a transdermal patch to deliver the opioid fentanyl is a safe and effective way to control pain in children ages 2 to 16.

Researchers from the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, studied 173 children ages 2 to 16. Many were cancer patients with a history of chronic severe pain and previous oral opioid use. The children were given a fentanyl patch equal to the concentration of their previous oral doses.

After 15 days, researchers found the subjective pain and quality of life improved significantly. After one month, quality of life scores improved. At the end of three months, there was a big improvement in average play performance scores. The study found no more adverse experiences than what adults report and no adverse experiences specific for the pediatric population.

The authors say 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.

SOURCE: CANCER, published online Nov. 4, 2005