Analgesic effect of ciramadol in patients with chronic pain

A double-blind, crossover study was carried out in 15 patients with chronic pain due to cancer to assess the effectiveness of two different doses of a new analgesic, ciramadol, compared with placebo. Patients received single oral doses of the three medications, in random order, on successive days. Assessments of pain intensity and relief were made on a 4-point rating scale at hourly intervals for 4 hours after the dose. The results showed that ciramadol produced significantly more pain relief than did placebo and this analgesic effect increased with the dose administered. Peak activity was observed at about 2 hours, and pain relief was still marked at 4 hours. No side-effects were reported.