Intravenous flurbiprofen axetil to relieve cancer-related multiple breakthrough pain: a clinical study.

Objective: To compare the treatment effect reducing cancer-related multiple breakthrough pain (BTP) between immediate release morphine sulfate (IRMS) and flurbiprofen axetil.

Methods: Eligible patients with refractory BTP were divided into two groups; the control group received IRMS for rescue care; the flurbiprofen group received intravenous flurbiprofen axetil. Patients were asked to assess the effect of rescue medication on their most severe pain.

Results: The study assessed 217 patients, 122 in the control group and 95 in the flurbiprofen group. The average time to meaningful pain relief following the administration of rescue medication in the two groups was 27.3 minutes (control group) and 16.0 minutes (flurbiprofen group, P<0.01). A significant reduction in pain intensity was found in both groups; the average visual analog scale (VAS) score was reduced from 7.8 to 3.0 in the control group and from 7.9 to 2.2 in the flurbiprofen group (P<0.01).

Conclusion: Flurbiprofen axetil can relieve BTP quickly and effectively.