Changing M3G/M6G ratios and pharmacodynamics in a cancer patient during long-term morphine treatment

J Pain Symptom Manage. 2002 Feb;23(2):161-4. doi: 10.1016/s0885-3924(01)00398-0.

Abstract

A cancer patient receiving long-term oral sustained-release morphine treatment and periodically presenting with unusually high plasma M3G/M6G ratios is described. We found the patient's formation of M6G more unstable and perhaps delayed compared to the formation of M3G. There is no apparent explanation for this phenomenon and the high M3G/M6G ratios had no implications for the patient's pain experience or side effects from the morphine treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology*
  • Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use*
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / blood*
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Morphine / pharmacology*
  • Morphine / therapeutic use*
  • Morphine Derivatives / blood*
  • Morphine Derivatives / pharmacology*
  • Pain / blood
  • Pain / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / blood
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / complications*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Morphine Derivatives
  • morphine-6-glucuronide
  • Morphine
  • morphine-3-glucuronide