Fentanyl nasal spray (Instanyl) SPC updated

30th March 2017

The frequency of use for all strengths of Instanyl^® (fentanyl) nasal spray (Takeda) has been updated in the UK SPC. Patients are still advised to wait 4h before treating another breakthrough pain episode, however the following statement has now been added:

‘On exceptional occasions where a new episode of pain occurs earlier than 4h after the last dose, patients can use Instanyl to treat it, but they must wait least 2h before doing so. Dose adjustment of the background opioid therapy following pain reassessment should be considered if the patient frequently presents with breakthrough pain episodes that are less than 4 hours apart or with more than four breakthrough pain episodes per 24 hours.’

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Cochrane review: methadone for cancer pain

30th March 2017

This is the second update to the initial review in 2004 and subsequent update in 2007. The authors conclude that although methadone has been used for many years to treat severe cancer pain, the evidence base is sparse. There is low quality evidence to suggest that methadone has similar analgesic benefits to morphine in the management of severe cancer pain in adults. However, issues such as titrating to an effective dose and adverse effects may limit its potential. Methadone may have a role if other opioids are not tolerated, providing the issues of dose titration and possible severe adverse effects are considered.

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NICE: Care of dying adults in the last days of life quality standard

14th March 2017

NICE has published a separate specific quality standard on care of dying adults in the last days of life (QS144). This replaces statement 11 in the quality standard for end of life care in adults (QS13), which has now been removed.

QS144 Care of dying adults in the last days of life 

QS13 End of life care in adults 

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