The use of Fentanyl patches in pain relief

Abstract

Fentanyl patches have been extensively explored for pain management, especially in cancer patients. However, there is still a need for detailed efficacy studies, particularly with individual patient reactions and utility of urine level monitoring for this drug. The purpose of this present study was to carry out a preliminary study on the effectiveness of fentanyl patches in the pain management of patients attending Mater Dei Hospital's Pain Clinic. The study specifically attempted to evaluate the potential association between fentanyl and its metabolite levels in urine samples and reported pain alleviation, as well as patients' subjective pain experiences when using fentanyl patches. Following the relevant ethical approval, the study was carried out as a prospective observational one and included five participants with chronic pain disorders. Data collection methods included demographic questionnaires; urine sample collection at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours after patch application, and pain assessment. Semiquantitative urine levels of fentanyl and its metabolite levels were determined using commercially available kits. The results were analysed using the Pearson Correlation Coefficient and t- distribution. All individuals tested positive for fentanyl and its metabolites in urine samples at all time periods. Pain assessment questionnaires indicated interindividual differences in pain descriptions, patterns, and intensities. Furthermore, the use of extra analgesics by individual participants fluctuated throughout the study period. There was insufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis, indicating that no correlation between pain and time was found. This study provided preliminary insights into the effectiveness of fentanyl patches for pain management in clinical settings. Even if the number of participants were small, the findings and interpatient variability in results, emphasize the importance of personalized pain treatment approaches and the need for additional research to determine the factors that influence fentanyl patch effectiveness and patient response. Such findings may help healthcare practitioners optimize pain treatment tactics for cancer patients and others with chronic pain conditions.