A comparison of the clinical effectiveness between low-dose strong opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of mild cancer pain: A randomized trial

Objective: The present study aims to explore the effectiveness and safety of low‐dose strong opioids compared with non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the treatment of mild cancer pain. Methods: From September 2016 to September 2018, 66 patients with a malignant tumor and mild cancer pain admitted to the Department of Oncology of Dalian Fifth People’s Hospital were divided into the group A (treated with ibuprofen sustained‐release tablets for pain relief) and the group B (treated with oxycodone hydrochloride sustained‐release tablets for pain relief). After 7 days of treatment, the pain relief (Numeric Rating Scale [NRS]), physical strength, quality of life scores (Zubrod/ECOG/WHO [ZPS]), the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System [ESAS], and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire‐Core15‐Palliative [EORTC QLQ‐C15‐PAL] scores), and the occurrence of adverse reactions between the two groups were compared. The occurrence of adverse reactions in the mid‐term (after one month and three months of treatment) between the two groups were also compared. Results: Both groups had over 90% analgesic efficiency, but complete pain relief was more likely to be obtained in the group B (41.18%). The total analgesic efficiency in the group B was higher (100%) than in the group A (98.9%), and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The differences in the physical strength and quality of life scores in the two groups before and after treatment were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The differences in the ZPS scores between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The differences in ESAS and EORTC QLQ‐C15‐PAL scores between groups were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The application of low‐dose oxycodone hydrochloride sustained‐release tablets as the initial medication for patients with mild cancer pain was safe and effective, and the adverse reactions were easy to manage.