Pain management – European Clinical Trials Information Network

Comparing morphine and alfentanil for treating severe acute pain in adults before hospital admission

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:07:57 +0000

This study is looking at severe pain that needs emergency treatment before patients reach the hospital. The two medications being compared are morphine and alfentanil, both of which are strong pain relief medicines given through an injection into a vein. These medications work by blocking pain signals in the body. The purpose of the study is to compare how well these two medicines work at relieving severe sudden pain in adults who are being treated by emergency medical teams before arriving at the hospital.

During the study, patients with severe sudden pain will receive either morphine or alfentanil as their pain treatment. The medical team will measure the pain level using a number scale where patients rate their pain from zero to ten. The main focus is to see how many patients have their pain reduced to a low level within fifteen minutes after receiving the first injection of the assigned medicine. The study will also look at whether patients need additional pain medicine during their emergency care and how long it takes from the first injection until they arrive at the hospital.

The study will also carefully track any unwanted effects that might occur with either medicine. This includes checking breathing rate and oxygen levels, blood pressure, alertness and drowsiness, and whether patients experience nausea, vomiting, or itching. The medical team will monitor all these aspects throughout the emergency care period. The study will also examine whether the type of pain, such as pain from an injury or pain from internal organs, affects how well each medicine works.

A Study of Fentanyl Nasal Spray Safety and Effectiveness for Pain Management in Patients Requiring Pain Relief

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:07:42 +0000

This study is looking at pain management in patients with cancer who experience severe sudden pain, also called breakthrough pain, despite being on regular strong pain medication. The study will use fentanyl given as a nasal spray, which is a powerful pain relief medicine. Two forms of fentanyl will be used in the study: Fentanyl Kalceks and Fentanyl Sandoz, both given through the nose as a spray instead of by injection as they are normally used.

The purpose of the study is to collect information through questionnaires about how well fentanyl nasal spray works and how safe it is for treating breakthrough pain in cancer patients. The study is designed for adults over 18 years old who have cancer and are already taking major opioid therapy, which means they are already using strong pain medicines regularly. Patients need to be able to think clearly, use the nasal spray by themselves, and have a breathing rate above 10 breaths per minute. The study will not include patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, have cancerous tumors in the mouth or nose, or have a known allergy to fentanyl.

During the study, patients will use the fentanyl nasal spray when they have episodes of severe sudden pain and will answer questions about how well it relieves their pain. The study will measure success by looking at the responder rate using a pain rating scale called NPRS, which helps track how much the pain improves after using the spray. The treatment period for each patient can last up to 6 months, and the entire study is expected to continue until March 2026.