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Naldemedine-induced opioid withdrawal with restlessness as the predominant symptom in a palliative care setting

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2023

Ryota Sato ,
Mayumi Ishida Open the ORCID record for Mayumi Ishida [Opens in a new window] ,
Nozomu Uchida Open the ORCID record for Nozomu Uchida [Opens in a new window] ,
Takehiko Sakimoto ,
Takefumi Yamaguchi ,
Yoshitaka Ooya ,
Takao Takahashi  and
Hideki Onishi Open the ORCID record for Hideki Onishi [Opens in a new window]
Ryota Sato
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacy, Maruki Memorial Medical and Social Welfare Center, Saitama, Japan
Mayumi Ishida*
Affiliation:
Department of Psycho-oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan
Nozomu Uchida
Affiliation:
Department of Supportive Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan Department of General Medicine, Ogano Town Central Hospital, Saitama, Japan
Takehiko Sakimoto
Affiliation:
Department of Palliative Medicine, Asahi General Hospital, Chiba, Japan
Takefumi Yamaguchi
Affiliation:
Department of Palliative Care, Maruki Memorial Medical and Social Welfare Center, Saitama, Japan
Yoshitaka Ooya
Affiliation:
Department of Trauma and Emergency Acute Medicine, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan
Takao Takahashi
Affiliation:
Department of Supportive Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan
Hideki Onishi
Affiliation:
Department of Psycho-oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan
*
Corresponding author: Mayumi Ishida; Email: mayumi_i@saitama-med.ac.jp
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Abstract

Objectives

Opioid analgesics play a central role in cancer pain treatment; however, it has been reported that opioid-induced constipation (OIC) develops in 80% of patients using opioid analgesics and leads to a decrease in quality of life. Naldemedine improves constipation without affecting the analgesic action of opioid analgesics via peripheral μ-opioid receptors.

Methods

We report a terminally ill cancer patient who was diagnosed with opioid withdrawal syndrome (OWS) based on symptoms centered around restlessness and sweating that developed 43 days after administration of naldemedine for OIC.

Results

The patient was a 78-year-old woman who was diagnosed with stage IVB uterine sarcoma in October, 1 year prior to her visit to our clinic,  and underwent chemotherapy after surgery, but the disease became progressive. Thereafter, metastasis to the fourth thoracic vertebrae (Th4) was identified, and loxoprofen and acetaminophen were started for pain at the metastatic site. Oxycodone hydrochloride hydrate 10 mg/day was additionally administered on postoperative day 11, followed by naldemedine 0.2 mg/day for OIC. On the 43rd day after administration, the patient began to wander the hospital ward in a wheelchair and became noticeably restless. OWS due to naldemedine administration was suspected, and naldemedine was discontinued. The symptoms improved 7 days later, and no similar symptoms were observed thereafter.

Significance of results

Patients receiving palliative care often exhibit psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety and depression, but OWS due to naldemedine should also be considered as a potential cause.

Keywords

cancernaldemedineopioid withdrawal syndromeopioid-induced constipationpalliative care
Type
Case Report
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 21 , Issue 5 , October 2023 , pp. 957 - 959
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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