A strategy for conversion from subcutaneous to oral ketamine in cancer pain patients: effect of a 1:1 ratio.

Context: No consensus exists about the most appropriate dose ratio for conversion from parenteral to oral ketamine.

Objectives: To confirm that a 1:1 dose ratio is suitable for converting subcutaneous (s.c.

Morphine-methadone opioid rotation in cancer patients: analysis of dose ratio predicting factors.

The dose ratio that is effective when switching opioid therapy from morphine to methadone in cancer patients varies widely. There are no conclusive data explaining the source of this variability. We analyzed 54 cancer patients undergoing opioid rotation to clarify those factors that influenced the morphine/methadone dose ratio (MMEDR) at Day 10 after the switch.

Opioid switching from transdermal fentanyl to oral methadone in patients with cancer pain.

Background: Patients with cancer often are rotated from other opioids to methadone to improve the balance between analgesia and side effects. To the authors' knowledge, no clear guidelines currently exist for the safe and effective rotation from transdermal fentanyl to methadone.

Methods: The authors evaluated a protocol for switching opioid from transdermal fentanyl to oral methadone in 17 patients with cancer.