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Deadline: Apply by
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Methadone to Treat Nerve Pain Caused by Chemotherapy
Study Purpose
Many cancer patients develop long-lasting nerve pain from chemotherapy, and the usual treatment often provides only limited relief. Methadone may work better for this type of pain, but it has not been well studied, so doctors are hesitant to use it. This study will compare methadone and duloxetine to see which one better reduces pain and improves daily life while remaining safe.
The main goal of this study is to see whether methadone works better than duloxetine at reducing the average level of nerve pain caused by chemotherapy. The study will also look at whether methadone can help people function better in their daily lives, whether it improves overall quality of life, and whether methadone remains safe and effective over time without people needing increasing doses.
Details
People in the study will be randomly assigned to take one of the two medications for five weeks. They will fill surveys to track changes in pain and how they are feeling over all. Researchers will then follow-up and adjust doses each week based on how each person is doing. The main goal of this study is to see whether methadone works better than duloxetine at reducing the average level of nerve pain caused by chemotherapy. The study will also look at whether methadone can help people function better in their daily lives, whether it improves overall quality of life, and whether methadone remains safe and effective over time without people needing increasing doses.
Health Areas
Palliative Care, Chronic Pain, Virtual Health, Other Women’s Health, Cervical Cancer, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Mobility, Lymphoma, Ovarian Cancer, Prostate Diseases, Other Older Adults, Multiple Myeloma, Liver Cancer, Other Men’s Health , Other Diagnosis and Therapy, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Kidney Cancer, Primary Health Care, Bladder Cancers, Brain Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Vaginal and Vulvar Cancer, Other Health Systems and Technology, Stomach Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Bone Cancer, Other Bones, Joints, Muscles, Lung Cancer, Intestinal Cancer, Chronic Lymphocytic , Testicular Cancer, Other Cancers, Oral Cancer, Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, Breast Cancer, Uterine and Endometrial Cancer, Ovarian Disorders , Skin Cancer, Colorectal Cancer
Inclusion Criteria
1. Cancer history (active or remission)
2. Nerve pain only caused by chemotherapy that has lasted for at least 3 months
3. Taking little or no opioid
4. Older than 18 years old
Exclusion Criteria
1. Other causes of nerve pain
2. Current pregnancy or breast feeding
3. Unable to take oral medications
4. Known allergy or hypersensitivity to opioids, duloxetine, or any ingredient in their formulation
Location
Vancouver Island / Coast
Lower Mainland
Thompson–Okanagan
Eligibility
Age: 19 Years – 120 Years Old
Accepting Healthy Volunteers: No
Please note this is a a clinical trial and is also a patient-oriented project.
Collaborating Organizations
BC Cancer Provincial Clinical Trials Office
Island Health Research Department
Pan-Canadian Palliative Care Research Collaborative
