Wiffen, P.J., Derry, S., Naessens, K., & Bell, R.F. (2015). Oral tapentadol for cancer pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 9, CD011460.

DOI Link

Purpose

STUDY PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of tapentadol for relief of cancer pain

TYPE OF STUDY: Systematic review

Search Strategy

DATABASES USED: CENTRAL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and WHO clinical trials registry platform
 
INCLUSION CRITERIA: Randomized, controlled trial comparing tapentadol with placebo or active control, adults with moderate to severe pain, sample size of at least 10, pain measurement using a validated instrument
 
EXCLUSION CRITERIA: None specified

Literature Evaluated

TOTAL REFERENCES RETRIEVED: 209
 
EVALUATION METHOD AND COMMENTS ON LITERATURE USED: Criteria from the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews

Sample Characteristics

  • FINAL NUMBER STUDIES INCLUDED = 4 
  • TOTAL PATIENTS INCLUDED IN REVIEW: 1,029
  • SAMPLE RANGE ACROSS STUDIES: 93–496 patients
  • KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Pain intensity of at least 4 on a 10-point scale, age range was 50–75 years

Phase of Care and Clinical Applications

PHASE OF CARE: Late effects and survivorship
 
APPLICATIONS: Palliative care

Results

Tapentadol was as effective as oxycodone or morphine in comparator studies. No substantial differences in side effects were seen between tapentadol and comparators.

Conclusions

Tapentadol is as effective as oxycodone or morphine for chronic pain management.

Limitations

  • Limited number of studies included
  • Mixed study quality

Nursing Implications

Tapentadol was shown to be effective for management of cancer-related pain, but little suggests that it should be considered above other opioids. Further research would be helpful. The authors suggest that a reduction of pain intensity of at least 50% should be used to establish treatment efficacy, and note that tapentadol, as with all opioids, presents challenges in terms of benefits and side effects of treatment.

Legacy ID

5893