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Abstract
SUMMARY The management of severe pain situations requires therapeutic expertise in dealing with changes in pain intensity, analgesic limitations and individual patient needs. Opioids are the treatment of choice in severe pain. The availability of a broad range of opioids and formulations refined the options for improved pain treatment with a specific substance. These may include oral formulations, injectables and other applications suitable for different patient needs. Moreover, variable drug concentrations are most useful in clinical practice. This article briefly reviews the versatility of different hydromorphone formulations in the management of severe pain in palliative care and cancer. Limiting strong opioid treatment with one opioid substance in different formulations (adjuvants if necessary), according to varying requirements of patients, would be eligible for achieving a well-tolerated and effective pain therapy. Its versatility renders hydromorphone suitable for consistent opioid administration with predictable substance release, and may thus contribute to reducing the need for opioid change.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
KE Clemens has received lecture fees and research grants from Mundipharma. R Likar has received lecture fees from Mundipharma. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
Medizin & Markt provided medical writing assistance, which was paid for by Mundipharma.