Study Says Oxycodone Effectively Manages Chronic Pain in Elderly Patients

Oxycodone is one opioid option for patients with chronic pain and other conditions. The drug, however, has not been extensively studied in older patients.

Researchers set out to find how patients ages 65 and older responded to oxycodone (Xtampza ER) at PAINWeek 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Notably, the findings come from Collegium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — the makers of the medication.

Data was pulled from a randomized phase 3 trial “consisting of an open-label Titration Phase followed by a 12-week Double-blind Maintenance Phase in opioid-naïve and opioid-experienced subjects with chronic lower back pain (CLBP),” the authors described.

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A total of 26 patients with chronic pain at least 65 years of age were recruited — of which, two dropped out due to adverse events. Oxycodone efficacy was measured using the pain intensity numerical rating scale (PI-NRS) scores (11-point scale) 12 weeks into treatment, as well as the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC).

A clinically important pain reduction would be at least two points on the PI-NRS scale. At baseline, the median score was 7.50 and by week 12 it dropped to 2.69.

“All 18 subjects who completed the study reported improvement in their CLBP by the end of the Double-blind Maintenance Phase, with 16 (88.9%) showing >30% improvement and 14 (77.8%) showing >50%,” the analysis said.

As far as the safety and tolerability of the drug, the researchers said that no new concerns emerged during the study and outcomes were as expected. Adverse events were similar in the Titration and Double-blind Maintenance phases.

The results indicate that oxycodone is a safe, effective abuse-deterrent opioid option for elderly patients with chronic pain.

Also on MD Magazine >>> More News from PAINWeek 2016 in Las Vegas