Clinical trial of DHC Continus tablets in the treatment of chronic pain

Abstract

DHC Continus is an opioid analgesic for treatment of moderate to severe chronic pain.

The purpose of this study was evaluation of DHC Continus analgesic efficacy in the treatment of chronic malignant and non-malignant pain and side effects. The 91 patients participating in the study had pain intensity exceeding 4 in VAS scale during primary treatment. Patients were divided into two groups treated with only non opioid analgesics and treated with non opioid and weak opioid analgesics.

Pain intensity in VAS scale was recorded every 7 days for a period of 4 weeks. The results suggest that DHC Continus is an effective and safe analgesic for both malignant and non-malignant pain.

The most frequent side effect was constipation, other symptoms were rare and transitory.

The total of 9 patients withdrew from the study due to non-tolerated side effects.

General assessment of the treatment done by both the patient and the doctor was very good and good, specially it regarded the cancer pain patients.