Methylnaltrexone Treatment for Opioid-Induced Constipation in Patients with and without Cancer: Effect of Initial Dose

Bruce H Chamberlain,1 Michelle Rhiner,2 Neal E Slatkin,3,4 Nancy Stambler,5 Robert J Israel6 1Genesis Healthcare, Davenport, IA, USA; 2Department of Family Medicine, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA, USA; 3University of California Riverside, School of Medicine, Riverside, CA, USA; 4Salix...

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Main Authors: Chamberlain BH, Rhiner M, Slatkin NE, Stambler N, Israel RJ
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2023-07-01
Series:Journal of Pain Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/methylnaltrexone-treatment-for-opioid-induced-constipation-in-patients-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPR
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author Chamberlain BH
Rhiner M
Slatkin NE
Stambler N
Israel RJ
author_facet Chamberlain BH
Rhiner M
Slatkin NE
Stambler N
Israel RJ
author_sort Chamberlain BH
collection DOAJ
description Bruce H Chamberlain,1 Michelle Rhiner,2 Neal E Slatkin,3,4 Nancy Stambler,5 Robert J Israel6 1Genesis Healthcare, Davenport, IA, USA; 2Department of Family Medicine, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA, USA; 3University of California Riverside, School of Medicine, Riverside, CA, USA; 4Salix Pharmaceuticals, Medical Affairs, Bridgewater, NJ, USA; 5Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a subsidiary of Lantheus Holdings, Inc, Clinical Research, North Billerica, MA, USA; 6Bausch Health US, LLC, Clinical and Medical Affairs, Bridgewater, NJ, USACorrespondence: Robert J Israel, Bausch Health US, LLC, Clinical and Medical Affairs, 400 Somerset Corporate Boulevard, Room 6-1001, Bridgewater, NJ, 08807, USA, Tel +1 908 541-2288, Fax +1 585 338-0668, Email Robert.Israel@bauschhealth.comPurpose: Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is a common side effect of opioid therapy. Methylnaltrexone (MNTX) is a selective, peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor antagonist, with demonstrated efficacy in treating OIC. We pooled results from MNTX clinical trials to compare responses to an initial dose in patients with chronic cancer and noncancer pain.Patients and Methods: This post hoc analysis used pooled data from 3 randomized, placebo-controlled studies of MNTX in patients with advanced illness with OIC. Assessments included the proportions of patients achieving rescue-free laxation (RFL) within 4 and 24 hours of the first study drug dose, time to RFL, current and worst pain intensity, and adverse events, stratified by the presence/absence of cancer.Results: A total of 355 patients with cancer (MNTX n = 198, placebo n = 157) and 163 without active cancer (MNTX n = 83; placebo n = 80) were included. More patients treated with MNTX compared with those who received placebo achieved an RFL within 4 (cancer: MNTX, 61.1% vs placebo,15.3%, p< 0.0001; noncancer: MNTX, 62.2% vs placebo, 17.5%, p< 0.0001) and 24 hours (cancer: MNTX, 71.2% vs placebo, 41.4%, p< 0.0001; noncancer: MNTX, 74.4% vs placebo, 37.5%, p< 0.0001) of the initial dose. Cumulative RFL response rates within 4 hours of the first, second, or third dose of study drug were also higher in MNTX-treated patients. The estimated time to RFL was shorter among those who received MNTX and similar in cancer and noncancer patients. Mean pain scores declined similarly in all groups. The most common adverse events in both cancer and noncancer patients were abdominal pain, flatulence, and nausea.Conclusion: After the first dose, MNTX rapidly induced a laxation response in the majority of both cancer and noncancer patients with advanced illness. Opioid-induced analgesia was not compromised, and adverse events were primarily gastrointestinal in nature. Methylnaltrexone is a well-tolerated and effective treatment for OIC in both cancer and noncancer patients.Keywords: peripheral mu-opioid receptor antagonist, PAMORA, chronic pain, opioid
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spelling doaj.art-66eac29669c14c58a480fb76fe65e4972023-07-27T19:14:33ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Pain Research1178-70902023-07-01Volume 162595260785492Methylnaltrexone Treatment for Opioid-Induced Constipation in Patients with and without Cancer: Effect of Initial DoseChamberlain BHRhiner MSlatkin NEStambler NIsrael RJBruce H Chamberlain,1 Michelle Rhiner,2 Neal E Slatkin,3,4 Nancy Stambler,5 Robert J Israel6 1Genesis Healthcare, Davenport, IA, USA; 2Department of Family Medicine, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA, USA; 3University of California Riverside, School of Medicine, Riverside, CA, USA; 4Salix Pharmaceuticals, Medical Affairs, Bridgewater, NJ, USA; 5Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a subsidiary of Lantheus Holdings, Inc, Clinical Research, North Billerica, MA, USA; 6Bausch Health US, LLC, Clinical and Medical Affairs, Bridgewater, NJ, USACorrespondence: Robert J Israel, Bausch Health US, LLC, Clinical and Medical Affairs, 400 Somerset Corporate Boulevard, Room 6-1001, Bridgewater, NJ, 08807, USA, Tel +1 908 541-2288, Fax +1 585 338-0668, Email Robert.Israel@bauschhealth.comPurpose: Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is a common side effect of opioid therapy. Methylnaltrexone (MNTX) is a selective, peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor antagonist, with demonstrated efficacy in treating OIC. We pooled results from MNTX clinical trials to compare responses to an initial dose in patients with chronic cancer and noncancer pain.Patients and Methods: This post hoc analysis used pooled data from 3 randomized, placebo-controlled studies of MNTX in patients with advanced illness with OIC. Assessments included the proportions of patients achieving rescue-free laxation (RFL) within 4 and 24 hours of the first study drug dose, time to RFL, current and worst pain intensity, and adverse events, stratified by the presence/absence of cancer.Results: A total of 355 patients with cancer (MNTX n = 198, placebo n = 157) and 163 without active cancer (MNTX n = 83; placebo n = 80) were included. More patients treated with MNTX compared with those who received placebo achieved an RFL within 4 (cancer: MNTX, 61.1% vs placebo,15.3%, p< 0.0001; noncancer: MNTX, 62.2% vs placebo, 17.5%, p< 0.0001) and 24 hours (cancer: MNTX, 71.2% vs placebo, 41.4%, p< 0.0001; noncancer: MNTX, 74.4% vs placebo, 37.5%, p< 0.0001) of the initial dose. Cumulative RFL response rates within 4 hours of the first, second, or third dose of study drug were also higher in MNTX-treated patients. The estimated time to RFL was shorter among those who received MNTX and similar in cancer and noncancer patients. Mean pain scores declined similarly in all groups. The most common adverse events in both cancer and noncancer patients were abdominal pain, flatulence, and nausea.Conclusion: After the first dose, MNTX rapidly induced a laxation response in the majority of both cancer and noncancer patients with advanced illness. Opioid-induced analgesia was not compromised, and adverse events were primarily gastrointestinal in nature. Methylnaltrexone is a well-tolerated and effective treatment for OIC in both cancer and noncancer patients.Keywords: peripheral mu-opioid receptor antagonist, PAMORA, chronic pain, opioidhttps://www.dovepress.com/methylnaltrexone-treatment-for-opioid-induced-constipation-in-patients-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPRperipheral mu-opioid receptor antagonistpamorachronic painopioid 
spellingShingle Chamberlain BH
Rhiner M
Slatkin NE
Stambler N
Israel RJ
Methylnaltrexone Treatment for Opioid-Induced Constipation in Patients with and without Cancer: Effect of Initial Dose
Journal of Pain Research
peripheral mu-opioid receptor antagonist
pamora
chronic pain
opioid 
title Methylnaltrexone Treatment for Opioid-Induced Constipation in Patients with and without Cancer: Effect of Initial Dose
title_full Methylnaltrexone Treatment for Opioid-Induced Constipation in Patients with and without Cancer: Effect of Initial Dose
title_fullStr Methylnaltrexone Treatment for Opioid-Induced Constipation in Patients with and without Cancer: Effect of Initial Dose
title_full_unstemmed Methylnaltrexone Treatment for Opioid-Induced Constipation in Patients with and without Cancer: Effect of Initial Dose
title_short Methylnaltrexone Treatment for Opioid-Induced Constipation in Patients with and without Cancer: Effect of Initial Dose
title_sort methylnaltrexone treatment for opioid induced constipation in patients with and without cancer effect of initial dose
topic peripheral mu-opioid receptor antagonist
pamora
chronic pain
opioid 
url https://www.dovepress.com/methylnaltrexone-treatment-for-opioid-induced-constipation-in-patients-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPR
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