Cancer Pain Relief

Cancer patients who ordinarily used oral morphine for "breakthrough" pain (sudden moderate to severe pain that is not controlled by regular drug therapy) experienced 33% greatest relief within 15 minutes of dissolving a lozenge containing the painkiller fentanyl (Actiq) in their mouths.

Theory: The fentanyl lozenge dissolves quickly, allowing it to pass into the central nervous system faster than oral pain medication, such as morphine.