The usage of morphine sulphate and morphine hydrochloride preparations in treatment of painful malignant ulcers
Background: Opioids may successfully modulate the experience of pain by binding to the opioid receptors on sensory nerve terminals located at the inflamed peripheral tissues.
Aims: In the current study we estimated efficacy, local analgesic effect and also determined time of use and side effects of morphine sulphate hydrogel with morphine sulphate ointment and morphine hydrochloride hydrogel and ointment compared with placebo.
Materials and Methods: The study comprised 35 patients with painful malignant skin ulcerations. Hydrogel and ointment of an absorption cream type was prepared in the Department of Applied Pharmacy-Medical University of Lodz and preparations contained 0.2% Morphine sulphate and 0.225% Morphine hydrochloride.
Results: All patients received opioid preparations observed reduction of pain. Analgesic effect was not noticed in control group. Patients did not recognize any differences between hydrogel and ointment analgesic activity. The application of morphine based preparations to the painful skin lesions produced from 6 to 16 hours of analgesia. The following side effects of opioids was not observed.
Conclusions: Locally administered preparations containing morphine produced significant analgesia in patients with painful skin ulcerations. Ointment and hydrogel containing morphine applied on the skin have comparable analgesic effect.