Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Topical morphine for esophagitis?
The current J of Pain & Symptom Management publishes a letter about a novel therapy for esophagitis in 3 individuals receiving chemoradiotherapy for lung CA who were having severe esophagitis pain not responding to systemic analgesics. They were given 2-10mL of a 0.1% morphine gel (morphine solution in a carboxymethylcellulose gel) about an hour before meals. All 3 of the patients had marked improvement in analgesia with swallowing, which lasted 2-4 hours. Clearly further stuides with more people & some form of control are needed but this will be quite nice if it proves effective--especially if it provides several hours of relief.