[Dihydroetorphine hydrochloride for moderate and severe cancer pain]

One hundred and three patients with moderate and severe cancer pain were given a sublingual analgesic agent--dihydroetorphine hydrochloride (DHE). Relief of cancer pain was moderate or complete in 89.3% (92/103). The average relief time (ART) was 3.9 hours and the average time before effectiveness was 20 minutes. In patients with acute or chronic cancer pain, moderate and complete pain-relief rates were 91.3% and 82.2% (P = 0.237). Difference of ART between them was insignificant (P = 0.299). The main clinical side-effects were somnolence (60%), dizziness (72%), nausea (30%), vomiting (16.5%), constipation (5%) and shortness of breath (8%). In two of the patients, the administration of DHE had to be stopped due to its side-effects. Age, sex and site of cancer pain were not related to the analgesic effects of DHE, but the pain-relief in patients with bladder cancer was poor (P less than 0.001). Within certain range, increase in dose was able to enhance its analgesic effect (P less than 0.001) and reduce drug resistance (P less than 0.001).