A multicenter, primary-care-based, open-label study to assess the success of converting opioid-experienced patients with chronic moderate-to-severe pain to morphine sulfate and naltrexone hydrochloride extended-release capsules using a standardized conversion guide.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the conversion of opioid-experienced patients with chronic moderate-to-severe pain to extended-release morphine sulfate with sequestered naltrexone hydrochloride (MSN) using a standardized conversion guide.
METHODS: This open-label, single-arm study was conducted in 157 primary care centers in the United States. A total of 684 opioid-experienced adults with chronic moderate-to-severe pain were converted to oral administration of MSN from transdermal fentanyl and oral formulations of hydrocodone, hydromorphone, methadone, oxycodone, oxymorphone, and other morphine products using a standardized conversion guide. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients achieving a stable MSN dose within a 6-week titration phase. Secondary endpoints included duration of time to stable dose, number of titration steps, safety and efficacy measures, and investigator assessment of conversion guide utility.
RESULTS: Of the 684 patients, 51.3% were converted to a stable dose of MSN (95% confidence interval: 47.5%, 55.1%). The mean (standard deviation) number of days to stable dose was 20 (8.94), and number of titration steps to stable dose was 2.4 (1.37). The majority of adverse events were mild/moderate and consistent with opioid therapy. Mean pain scores at stable dose decreased from baseline. Investigators were generally satisfied with the conversion guide and, in 94% of cases, reported they would use it again.
CONCLUSION: Conversion to MSN treatment using the standardized MSN conversion guide was an attainable goal in approximately half of the population of opioid-experienced patients with chronic moderate-to-severe pain. Investigators found the guide to be a useful tool to assist conversion of opioid-experienced patients to MSN.

Introduction

Opioids are an established therapeutic tool for the relief of moderate-to-severe pain.1,2 Over the last two decades, opioid use has expanded from the treatment of acute postoperative pain and terminal cancer pain to include the treatment of chronic, noncancer pain (CNCP).3,4 While the evidence for the long-term efficacy of opioid therapy in treatment of CNCP remains variable,5 an increasing number of patients are prescribed opioids for CNCP.6 In a recent meta-analysis of clinical trial evidence for long-term effectiveness and safety of opioid treatment in CNCP, Noble et al7 reported that 32.5% of patients did not continue long-term oral opioid treatment due to intolerable adverse effects, whereas 11.9% discontinued because of insufficient pain relief. Finding an appropriate balance between analgesic efficacy and tolerable side effects is a critically important and often complex task for physicians when managing patients on long-term opioid therapy. Opioid tolerance, characterized by the reduced efficacy of opioids following repeated dosing, may lead to upward titration of dose to achieve adequate pain relief, often resulting in an increase in deleterious side effects. When dose alterations no longer provide for adequate pain control or elicit intolerable side effects, opioid conversion is indicated8–11 or discontinuation of opioid treatment.

Opioid conversion (often used interchangeably with “rotation” or “switching”12) has been defined as a change in opioid drug or route of administration with the goal of improving outcomes.13 The mechanisms by which opioid conversion is thought to promote changes in either pain control or side effects are hypothesized to be the incomplete cross- tolerance between opioids, reducing the opioid load (incomplete tolerance) and/or side effects, and individual variation in opioid pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics.10 The variable response of individuals to opioids presents challenges to physicians when converting from one opioid to another. Conversion requires knowledge of how to safely transfer patients between opioid formulations and careful consideration of a dose and titration plan for each individual patient, regardless of prior opioid.10,14 Equianalgesic tables have long been used to translate relative opioid potency data into a form useful for clinical decision making regarding opioid conversion. The limitations of equianalgesic tables are well known9,15–17 and stem from acknowledgment that the relative potency data from which they are derived are weak, often from single-dose studies involving acute pain in healthy opioid-naïve patients.8 Nevertheless, the equianalgesic table remains an important first resource to guide physicians in the design of a safe and effective opioid conversion regimen for an individual patient.

An extended-release (ER) formulation of morphine sulfate, an opioid agonist, that surrounds sequestered naltrexone hydrochloride,18 a selective µ-opioid receptor antagonist (MSN; EMBEDA®, Pfizer Inc, New York, NY, USA), is designed to deter common methods of tampering that are associated with opioid abuse and misuse. If taken as directed, the naltrexone remains sequestered; however, upon tampering, the sequestered naltrexone is released, reducing the action of morphine (data on file; Pfizer Inc). MSN has been shown to be effective in treating chronic moderate-to-severe pain in two short-term studies (2–12 weeks).18,19 Long-term (12 months) safety and efficacy of MSN have been demonstrated in patients with chronic moderate-to-severe pain; most adverse events (AEs) were those typically reported for opioids.20 Post hoc analysis of data from an open-label safety study has reported the safe rotation and conversion of MSN in both opioid-naïve and opioid-experienced patients with moderate-to-severe CNCP.12

The MSN conversion guide (Supplementary materials) summarizes published equianalgesic data to specifically assist health care professionals in converting patients to MSN from transdermal fentanyl and oral formulations of commonly used opioids, ie, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, methadone, oxycodone, oxymorphone, and other morphine products. The equianalgesic dosing data in the MSN conversion guide (Table 1) are derived from the equianalgesic table published in 2003 by the American Pain Society22 with additional conversion information for hydrocodone,23 oxymorphone,24 and transdermal fentanyl.25 The guide recommends a 50% reduction in calculated equianalgesic dose as a suggested starting dose for MSN and does not specify a maximum dose. The guide does not contain information for parenteral opioid dose conversion to MSN and is not intended for reverse conversions.

Table 1

MSN conversion guide and comparison with previously published equianalgesic data tables

	MSN conversion guide21	APS 5th ed.22	Gordon et al23	Sloan et al24	Levy25
Morphine	30 mg	30 mg	30 mg	–	–
Hydrocodone	30 mg	30 mg	30 mg	–	–
Hydromorphone	7.5 mg	7.5 mg	7.5 mg	–	–
Oxycodone	20 mg	20 mg	20–30 mg	–	–
Oxymorphone	15 mg	–	10 mg	15 mg (1:2 ratio of OM to morphine)	–
Methadone	10 mg	10 mg	3–5 mg	–	–
Trans fentanyl	12.5 µg/h = 300 µg/day	–	–	–	“µg/h dose of trans fentanyl equals one half of the mg/day dose of oral morphine”25 (ie, 12.5 µg/h patch is dosing unit closest to 15 µg/h)

Note: All conversions based on 30 mg morphine PO.

Abbreviations: APS, American Pain Society; MSN, extended-release morphine sulfate surrounding sequestered naltrexone hydrochloride; OM, oxymorphone; PO, per oral; Trans, transdermal.

There is a need for studies that involve “real-life” clinical settings to better characterize conversion experiences in patients with chronic moderate-to-severe pain.12 The purpose of this study was to evaluate the success of converting opioid-experienced adults with chronic moderate-to-severe pain from a range of commonly prescribed opioids to MSN, using the MSN conversion guide (Supplementary materials) in a primary care setting. This study reports clinically relevant conversion information, including the number of titration steps and time to achieve a stable dose of MSN, efficacy and AE analyses, and an investigator assessment of the utility of the MSN conversion guide.

Methods

This open-label, single-arm, multicenter study was conducted at 157 primary care centers in the United States from August 27, 2010, to March 10, 2011, when the study was terminated early due to a voluntary sponsor recall of MSN that related to a prespecified manufacturing stability requirement not being met during routine testing (Clinical-Trials.gov: NCT01179191). MSN is expected to be available again in 2015.

This study was conducted in accordance with the Good Clinical Practice requirements described in the current revision of the International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use Guidelines. All local regulatory requirements were followed, and all participants gave written informed consent prior to entering the study.

Patients

Eligibility for the study included patients aged ≥21 years with chronic (≥3 months) moderate-to-severe pain who required around-the-clock opioid treatment for optimal analgesia. All patients were opioid-experienced, defined as taking a daily opioid for at least 30 days prior to screening (excluding tramadol and/or ER morphine products) and able to be safely converted to a minimum morphine dose of 20 mg/day. Patients were recruited according to type of opioid specified in the MSN conversion guide; the following commonly used opioids were represented in the study population: transdermal fentanyl, immediate-release (IR) hydrocodone, IR hydromorphone, IR oxycodone, IR morphine, methadone, ER oxycodone, or ER oxymorphone. Patients were excluded if they were diagnosed with and/or exhibited signs or symptoms of opioid and/or alcohol abuse, or were participating in and/or seeking treatment for opioid and/or alcohol abuse. Patients with a documented history of allergy or a clinically significant intolerance to morphine, morphine salts, naltrexone, or other opioids, such that treatment with morphine was contraindicated, were also excluded. Women who were pregnant, lactating, or planning to become pregnant during the course of the study were not eligible.

Study design

The study comprised three phases: screening, titration, and maintenance (Figure 1). Screening consisted of a single visit (Visit 1) during which standard medical screening to determine eligibility took place. During this visit, consenting patients completed a baseline Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)26 and a confidential Self-Reported Misuse, Abuse, and Diversion (SR-MAD) questionnaire. (Data from SR-MAD are published separately in this volume.) During the titration stage, lasting up to 6 weeks, all patients were converted to MSN. Conversion to MSN was standardized for all investigators using the MSN conversion guide provided with the protocol (Supplementary materials). However, the conversion guide instructions indicated that the actual dose should be based on clinical judgment and adjusted on an individual basis. The selection of the initial dose of MSN for each patient was based upon the following considerations and information: 1) the total daily dose, potency, and type of opioid the patient had been taking previously; 2) the reliability of the relative potency estimate used to calculate the equivalent dose of morphine needed (potency estimates may vary with the route of administration) to replace the patient’s opioid; 3) the type and severity of the patient’s pain; 4) the patient’s degree of opioid experience and tolerance; 5) the general condition and medical status of the patient; and 6) the patient’s concomitant medications. A stable dose was defined by all of the following criteria: 1) a dose that has been taken for at least 48 hours; 2) a dose that the investigator deemed had achieved the balance between an acceptable level of analgesia and/or function, and tolerance of side effects; and 3) a dose that allows for rescue medication use of no more than two doses per day. At the discretion of the investigator, rescue medication was allowed so as to provide supplemental analgesia for breakthrough pain during titration; rescue medications included IR morphine (<20% of the total daily dose of MSN per IR dose), ibuprofen (up to 400 mg/dose, not to exceed 1,200 mg/day), and acetaminophen (up to 1,000 mg/dose, not to exceed 4,000 mg/day). Subsequent visits (Visits 2b–e) were optional if the patient required additional dose adjustments, and occurred every 5 days (±2 days) following the previous visit to a maximum of 6 weeks. If a patient did not achieve a stable dose by 6 weeks, he or she was discontinued from the study. Patients who achieved a stable MSN dose returned to the clinic for Visit 3 and completed a BPI. At this visit, the investigator completed a conversion assessment survey, a brief questionnaire using multiple choice options and an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS) with specified anchored responses, ranging on a scale from 0 (not useful) to 10 (very useful). During the maintenance stage, lasting 8 weeks, patients completed a BPI (Visits 4 and 5) and women underwent a urine pregnancy test (Visit 5 only).

Figure 1

Study flow diagram.

Notes: aIf a patient completes Visit 2e prior to day 42 but has not achieved a stable (effective) dose of MSN, titration visits could continue as unscheduled visits until day 42; bpatients who discontinued at any point in the study were to complete Visit 5 as the final visit.

Abbreviation: MSN, extended-release morphine sulfate surrounding sequestered naltrexone hydrochloride.

The primary outcome measure was the percentage of patients who achieved a stable dose of MSN within the 6-week titration phase. Secondary outcomes were the duration of time to achieve a stable dose, the number of titration steps required to achieve a stable dose, and the number of rescue medication uses during titration. Pain control and activity level were both scored by the patient using the BPI.26

All patients who filled a prescription for MSN were defined as the safety population. All AEs were coded to System Organ Class and Preferred Term (using MedDRA® version 13.1). Treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs) were defined as AEs that commenced after the patient filled the first MSN prescription, and were categorized by incidence, intensity, relationship to study drug, and seriousness of TEAE.

Statistical analyses

The study was designed to enroll up to 1,300 patients with approximately 160 patients from each of eight types of commonly prescribed opioids. With 1,300 patients total and 160 patients per opioid type, the 95% confidence interval (CI) of conversion success rate would have a 5% and 15% width, respectively, assuming a success rate of 30%. Results were presented graphically and with summary statistics. Exact CIs were calculated for the primary endpoint.

Results

Due to early termination of the study, the desired enrollment of up to 1,300 patients was not achieved. A total of 684 patients constituted the safety population and comprised 378 (55.3%) women with a median age of 52 years (range, 21–90), and predominantly white (83.3%) or African American (12.6%). Prior opioid types were IR hydrocodone (n=164, 24.0%), IR oxycodone (n=160, 23.4%), ER oxycodone (n=107, 15.6%), transdermal fentanyl (n=77, 11.3%), methadone (n=64, 9.4%), IR morphine (n=53, 7.7%), ER oxymorphone (n=25, 3.7%), IR hydromorphone (n=22, 3.2%), and excluded opioid/unclassified (n=12, 1.8%). Primary pain classifications were musculoskeletal (55.1%), arthritis (23.9%), and nerve-related pain (10.7%). Most patients (95.1%) had experienced primary pain for more than 1 year, 57.4% for more than 5 years, and 32.1% for more than 10 years. No clear differences in patient demographics were observed among subgroups of prior opioid types.

Of the safety population, 351 patients (51.3%) achieved a stable dose of MSN with the 6-week titration stage (95% CI: 47.5%, 55.1%). When stratified by previous opioid treatment, a stable dose was achieved by 40.6% of patients who had used methadone, 42.1% who used ER oxycodone, 48.1% who used IR oxycodone, 54.5% who used transdermal fentanyl, 56.0% who used ER oxymorphone, 60.4% who used IR hydrocodone, 62.3% who used IR morphine, and 63.6% converting from IR hydromorphone (Figure 2). The most frequent reasons for discontinuation during titration were patient decision (n=162), other, including patients who discontinued due to early discontinuation of the study (n=62), and AEs resulting in study drug discontinuation by physician (n=45). For the 162 patients whose reason for discontinuation during titration was patient decision, the most frequent reasons specified were AE tolerability (n=66) and perceived lack of efficacy (n=63). Only 13 patients were withdrawn due to failure to reach a stable dose during titration.

Figure 2

Frequency (%) of patients achieving stable MSN dose by opioid type.

Note: Data are percent ±95% confidence interval.

Abbreviations: ER, extended-release; Excl, excluded; IR, immediate-release; MSN, extended-release morphine sulfate surrounding sequestered naltrexone hydrochloride; Trans, transdermal.

The mean (standard deviation, SD) number of days to a stable dose of MSN was 20 (8.94), ranging from 17.8 days in patients whose prior opioid was transdermal fentanyl to 24.3 days in patients whose prior opioid was IR hydromorphone (Figure 3). The mean (SD) number of steps (ie, dose adjustments) during titration to a stable dose was 2.4 (1.37), ranging from 2.0 steps in patients whose prior opioid was transdermal fentanyl to 2.7 steps in patients whose prior opioid was methadone (Figure 4). The median MSN starting dose was 40 mg/day (range, 20–400 mg/day), and the median stable dose was 80 mg/day (range, 20–1,200 mg/day). Of the 351 patients who achieved a stable dose, 95.4% reported using rescue medication at least once during titration. The percentage of patients who reported an average of three or more rescue medication uses per day was 61.6% at baseline and 22.0% at Visit 3 (stable dose).

Figure 3

Number of days to reach stable MSN dose by prior opioid.

Note: Data are mean ± standard error.

Abbreviations: ER, extended-release; Excl, excluded; IR, immediate-release; MSN, extended-release morphine sulfate surrounding sequestered naltrexone hydrochloride; Trans, transdermal.

Figure 4

Number of steps to reach stable MSN dose by prior opioid.

Note: Data are mean ± standard error.

Abbreviations: ER, extended-release; Excl, excluded; IR, immediate-release; MSN, extended-release morphine sulfate surrounding sequestered naltrexone hydrochloride; Trans, transdermal.

At Visit 1, the mean (SD) pain score (average pain in the past 24 hours) was 6.3 (1.79) and ranged from 5.5 (2.00) in patients converting from methadone to 6.85 (1.63) in patients converting from IR hydromorphone. Mean pain scores decreased from baseline to stable dose. Overall, at baseline (all patients) and at stable dose of Visit 3 (only patients achieving stable dose), respectively, the mean average pain (SD) was 6.3 (1.79) and 4.0 (2.11); mean least pain (SD) was 4.6 (2.27) and 2.7 (2.01); and mean worst pain (SD) was 8.0 (1.64) and 5.5 (2.37). In Figure 5, mean pain ratings are shown alongside mean MSN dose for those patients who achieved a stable dose (Figure 5A) and those who did not achieve a stable dose (Figure 5B). Patients who converted to MSN reported lower pain interference over the 24 hours prior to Visit 3 compared with baseline for all patients, for all activity categories (Table 2). The patients who failed to convert showed persistently higher pain scores despite increasing doses of opioid.

Figure 5

Mean average pain score and mean MSN daily dose in (A) patients achieving a stable MSN dose, and in (B) patients who did not achieve a stable MSN dose.

Notes: Number of patients at each visit is not constant. Visits 2a to 2e, titration phase up to 6 weeks; Visits 2b to 2e were optional, used by subjects not on a stable dose at previous visit up to 6 weeks.

Abbreviations: MSN, extended-release morphine sulfate surrounding sequestered naltrexone hydrochloride; NA, not available.

Table 2

Brief Pain Inventory versus activity for patients at baseline (Visit 1) and patients who achieved a stable dose of MSN (Visit 3)

Activity category	Baseline Visit 1 (Safety population)		Visit 3 (Stable dose achievers)
	n	Mean (SD) score	n	Mean (SD) score
General activity	643	7.0 (2.3)	321	3.9 (2.5)
Mood	642	6.3 (2.7)	320	3.2 (2.5)
Walking ability	641	6.5 (2.8)	318	3.7 (2.7)
Normal work	637	7.2 (2.5)	320	4.0 (2.7)
Relationships with other people	644	5.4 (3.1)	319	2.6 (2.5)
Sleep	642	6.8 (2.7)	320	3.4 (2.9)
Enjoyment of life	640	7.0 (2.6)	319	3.4 (2.7)

Abbreviations: MSN, extended-release morphine sulfate surrounding sequestered naltrexone hydrochloride; SD, standard deviation.

Initiation of MSN therapy at the dose calculated by the conversion guide occurred in 30.3% of patients and varied markedly among subgroups of prior opioid types, ranging from 5.3% in patients converting from transdermal fentanyl to 54.1% in the group converting from IR hydrocodone. Approximately one-half (56.3%) of patients received a starting MSN dose above the conversion guide calculation, ranging from 36.9% of patients converting from IR hydrocodone to 92.0% of patients converting from transdermal fentanyl. Only 12.4% of patients received a starting dose lower than the conversion guide calculation, ranging from 0% of patients converting from IR hydromorphone to 25.4% of patients converting from methadone.

In the safety population, 343 patients (50.1%) reported at least one TEAE. The most frequent TEAEs (>5% of patients) overall and by prior opioid are shown in Table 3. The total number of patients who discontinued due to TEAEs was 153 (22.4%). Discontinuation based on prior opioid treatment ranged from 13.6% in patients converting from IR hydromorphone to 28.0% in patients converting from ER oxymorphone. The most frequent TEAE cited for discontinuation was nausea in 26 patients (3.8%), constipation in 22 (3.2%), headache in 15 (2.2%), vomiting in 13 (1.9%), and somnolence in 12 patients (1.8%). The majority of TEAEs were mild or moderate. The most frequent severe TEAEs were constipation in 13 patients (1.9%); nausea, vomiting, and pain reported in seven patients (1.0%) each; and headache and insomnia each reported by three patients (0.4%). AEs reporting verbatim the term withdrawal were reported by two patients. A total of 24 (3.5%) patients reported at least one serious AE, with 35 events in total. The most frequently reported serious AEs were constipation, nausea, and dehydration, each reported for two patients (0.3%). Serious AEs occurred in patients across all subgroups of prior opioid types; the majority were not considered related to MSN. Two deaths were recorded during the study. A 35-year-old woman was determined to have died from adult respiratory distress syndrome from an uncommon inflammatory process that resulted in diffuse alveolar damage by day 27 of MSN treatment. Another patient, a 77-year-old woman with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), died at home after study completion following worsening COPD after 84 days of MSN treatment. Both deaths were determined by investigators not to be reasonably attributable to MSN.

Table 3

Number (%) of patients with treatment-emergent adverse events occurring in >5% of patients (safety population) from any prior opioid type

	TD fentanyl(n=77)	IR hydrocodone(n=164)	IR hydromorphone(n=22)	IR oxycodone(n=160)	IR morphine(n=53)	Methadone(n=64)	ER oxycodone(n=107)	ER oxymorphone(n=25)	Excluded opioid/unclassif(n=12)	Total(N=684)
Pts with ≥1 TEAE	47 (61.0)	90 (54.9)	8 (36.4)	81 (50.6)	30 (56.6)	28 (43.8)	45 (42.1)	12 (48.0)	2 (16.7)	343 (50.1)
Cardiac disorders
Dyspnea	1 (1.3)	0	0	3 (1.9)	0	1 (1.6)	0	0	1 (8.3)	6 (0.9)
Gastrointestinal disorders
Constipation	8 (10.4)	26 (15.9)	0	17 (10.6)	5 (9.4)	3 (4.7)	14 (13.1)	3 (12.0)	0	76 (11.1)
Nausea	7 (9.1)	13 (7.9)	2 (9.1)	13 (8.1)	8 (15.1)	3 (4.7)	7 (6.5)	3 (12.0)	1 (8.3)	57 (8.3)
Vomiting	4 (5.2)	11 (6.7)	1 (4.5)	7 (4.4)	2 (3.8)	4 (6.3)	3 (2.8)	2 (8.0)	0	34 (5.0)
General disorders and administration site conditions
Fatigue	4 (5.2)	3 (1.8)	0	8 (5.0)	2 (3.8)	0	2 (1.9)	1 (4.0)	0	20 (2.9)
Nervous system disorders
Dizziness	0	7 (4.3)	0	2 (1.3)	2 (3.8)	0	6 (5.6)	1 (4.0)	0	18 (2.6)
Headache	4 (5.2)	5 (3.0)	2 (9.1)	8 (5.0)	6 (11.3)	5 (7.8)	5 (4.7)	1 (4.0)	1 (8.3)	37 (5.4)
Somnolence	3 (3.9)	8 (4.9)	2 (9.1)	6 (3.8)	3 (5.7)	1 (1.6)	2 (1.9)	0	0	25 (3.7)
Tremor	1 (1.3)	0	1 (4.5)	0	1 (1.9)	0	0	0	1 (8.3)	4 (0.6)
Psychiatric disorders
Anxiety	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 (0.9)	0	1 (8.3)	2 (0.3)
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Rash	1 (1.3)	1 (0.6)	1 (4.5)	1 (0.6)	1 (1.9)	0	1 (0.9)	2 (8.0)	0	8 (1.2)

Note: An adverse event is defined as treatment emergent if it has a start date/time at any point after the patient filled the initial MSN prescription.

Abbreviations: ER, extended-release; IR, immediate-release; MSN, extended-release morphine sulfate surrounding sequestered naltrexone hydrochloride; Pts, patients; TD, transdermal; TEAE, treatment-emergent adverse event; Unclassif, unclassified.

A conversion assessment questionnaire was returned by the investigators for 352 patients at Visit 3. Investigators were generally satisfied with the MSN conversion guide, and found it clear, useful, and easy to use (Table 4). Of 350 responses, in 255 (72.9%) cases the investigators agreed with the starting dose of MSN calculated by the conversion guide. Of 95 cases (27.1%) where the investigator did not agree with the starting MSN dose, the calculated starting dose was cited as too low in 88 (92.6%) instances. Overall, in 329 (94.0%) cases, investigators reported that they would use the MSN conversion guide again.

Table 4

Investigator assessment of MSN conversion guide utility at Visit 3

Conversion guide assessment criteria	Mean (SD)	Median (range)
Usefulness of conversion guide to determine starting dose of MSNa (n=350)	7.8 (2.29)	8.0 (0–10)
Ease of use of conversion guideb (n=350)	8.4 (1.79)	9.0 (3–10)
Clarity of directions given in conversion guidec (n=350)	8.6 (1.72)	9.0 (1–10)
Satisfaction with conversion guided (n=349)	8.1 (2.11)	9.0 (2–10)

Notes:

Scale from 0 (not useful) to 10 (very useful);

scale from 0 (very difficult) to 10 (very easy);

scale from 0 (very unclear) to 10 (very clear);

scale from 0 (very dissatisfied) to 10 (very satisfied).

Abbreviations: MSN, extended-release morphine sulfate surrounding sequestered naltrexone hydrochloride; SD, standard deviation.

Discussion

This study provides clinically useful information regarding the utility of the MSN conversion guide in assisting in the safe conversion of opioid-experienced patients to MSN in a primary care setting. Opioid conversion is a common strategy employed in the management of patients on chronic opioid therapy and is used primarily to mitigate either a reduction in analgesic efficacy or an increase in intolerable side effects.9 With the variety of opioids currently available, opioid conversion can be a challenging clinical process, and successful conversion is greatly assisted by the use of simple, clear, and concise conversion guides.

Successful titration of opioid-naïve and opioid-experienced patients to MSN has been reported previously. In an enriched-enrollment, randomized-withdrawal, double-blind multicenter study, 62.9% (344/547) of patients with chronic moderate-to-severe osteoarthritic pain were successfully titrated to MSN over a mean (SD) of 19.6 (13.8) days; approximately 25% of patients were opioid-experienced, the remainder were opioid-naïve.18 In an open-label, long-term, multicenter safety study, 68% (201/297) of opioid- experienced patients with chronic moderate-to-severe nonmalignant pain achieved a stable dose of MSN over a mean (SD) of 31.7 (34.3) days, with 85% of patients reaching the stable dose within two titration steps and 96% of patients within four steps.12 The conversion guide used in the latter study was based on a previously published equianalgesic table described by Gordon et al23 and a similar instruction to clinicians in the present study to use clinical judgment when determining dose adjustments, though clinicians were able to refer to alternative conversion guides if required.12 The overall conversion rate reported in the present study is lower than that reported in these studies. As the present study was terminated early, it is possible that the current data underestimate stable conversion since some patients who might otherwise have titrated to a stable dose were discontinued because of study termination. Patients previously on methadone therapy reported the lowest conversion success, which may be attributable to the complex pharmacologic properties of methadone.27 Data reporting conversion from methadone are infrequent, and previous studies have shown wide variation in conversion success.28,29 In general, however, the rates of successful conversion were similar across the different types of opioids. Patients who achieved a stable dose of MSN did so generally within three titration steps and 30 days, consistent with Webster et al.12

Studies have demonstrated that opioid rotation can result in restoration of pain control in both cancer patients30–33 and those with CNCP.34–36 Patients who achieved a stable MSN dose (Visit 3) reported a clinically significant reduction in mean average pain scores from baseline based on a reduction of ≥2 points on the NRS.37 This supports existing data reporting the analgesic efficacy of MSN for chronic moderate-to-severe pain12,18–20 and data reporting analgesic efficacy of ER morphine sulfate formulations.38 Pain scores remained elevated in patients who did not achieve a stable dose, and the magnitude of pain relief experienced by the majority of those who achieved a stable dose was consistent with that previously reported.12 This suggests that inadequate pain control may be a risk factor for not achieving conversion. A fifth of patients who investigators determined as achieving a stable MSN dose reported ≥3 rescue medication uses per day. While the study protocol defined a stable MSN dose as ≤2 uses of rescue medication per day, determination of whether a patient achieved a stable MSN dose also took into account a clinical judgment of an appropriate balance between analgesia and side effects.

Furthermore, patients who converted to MSN reported lower pain interference with general activity, mood, walking ability, normal work, relationships with other people, sleep, and enjoyment of life over the 24 hours prior to Visit 3 compared with baseline scores for all enrolled patients. These results suggest that a successful conversion to a stable opioid dose may not only improve pain control but also be associated with improvements in other aspects of quality of life that are known to be negatively affected by chronic pain.39

Regardless of prior opioid therapy, conversion to MSN using the conversion guide was demonstrated to be safe in this population of opioid-experienced patients and adds to previously reported data on the safe use of MSN in clinical studies.12,18–20 Gastrointestinal side effects such as constipation and nausea observed in the present study are consistent with those previously described for MSN12,18–20 and those commonly observed during ER morphine sulfate therapy.38 Specifically, the rate of TEAEs resulting in discontinuation in the present study (22.4%) was consistent with that described by Katz et al18 (n=130/547; 23.8%) and Webster et al (n=46/197; 23.3%).12 Brown et al evaluated ER morphine sulfate in both opioid-naïve and opioid-experienced patients in a primary care setting and found TEAEs resulting in discontinuation to be 21%.38 Similarly, of the discontinuations, commonly reported AEs in the present study versus Katz et al,18 respectively, were nausea (3.8% vs 4.2%), constipation (3.2% vs 3.7%), vomiting (1.9% vs 2.7%), and somnolence (1.8% vs 2.7%). The majority of AEs were judged mild-to-moderate in both studies. Beyond the highly selected populations of clinical trials, a recent postmarketing evaluation of AEs in the year following approval of MSN reports the safety profile of MSN to be consistent with ER morphine formulations.40

Most investigators agreed with the starting dose as calculated by the MSN conversion guide; however, of those who did not agree, nearly all felt the calculated starting dose was too low. Interestingly, while in 72.9% of cases investigators agreed with the starting dose calculated by the MSN conversion guide, only 30.3% of patients received this starting dose. Actual starting dosages of MSN were predominantly greater, but a minority was also lower than those calculated by the MSN conversion guide. The starting dose of MSN in the conversion guide is suggested to be 50% of the calculated equianalgesic dose. The guide recommends a reduced initial dose and upward titration, supplying breakthrough medication to address incomplete analgesia to avoid overestimation requiring management of an AE.21 This dose adjustment is at the upper end of the suggested 25%–50% safety factor range identified as best practice for opioid rotation.13 In more than half of patients in this study, clinical judgment determined that a drop of 50% below the equianalgesic dose was not warranted. This variation of the MSN starting dose from the suggested dose merely serves to highlight the critical importance of individualized clinical assessment and physician knowledge of specific patient history and opioid formulation.

Any conversion guide must be an effective tool that prioritizes safe clinical management. The majority of investigators reported satisfaction with the MSN conversion guide, considered it a useful tool to identify an appropriate starting dose, found it easy to use, and provided clarity of instruction; almost all investigators reported they would use it again. One additional consideration to convert to MSN therapy is the possibly reduced abuse potential that is observed when the formulation is tampered,41–44 an important property with the present epidemic of opioid abuse.39,41–44

Several limitations to this study must be acknowledged, including the lack of a comparator group. Because of the open-label design of this study, there is a potential bias of the investigators to over-report achievement of stable dose in their patients. Early study termination prevented the enrollment of the anticipated numbers of patients for each opioid, the small sample size thus limiting comparisons of study findings with respect to prior opioid treatments. Instruments to evaluate opioid withdrawal were not utilized in this study; however, two patients experienced AEs of withdrawal syndrome that occurred 1 day and 3 days after converting to MSN and were considered unrelated to study drug. Previous case reports have described opioid withdrawal symptoms in opioid-experienced patients who did not take MSN as directed, either by intentional or inadvertent crushing of the morphine sulfate pellets.45,46

Conclusion

This study provides important clinical information to physicians regarding what can be expected when converting opioid-experienced patients with chronic moderate-to-severe pain to MSN when using the MSN conversion guide. Successful conversion to MSN using this guide was an attainable goal in approximately half of opioid-experienced patients in this study sample, regardless of prior opioid therapy. Those attaining a successful conversion also showed a clinically significant reduction in pain intensity. Pain intensity at the start of the study did not appear to influence successful conversion to opioid therapy. The MSN conversion guide was found to be a safe and useful tool to assist the clinician when converting an opioid-experienced patient to MSN.

Determine the total daily dose of the prior opioid.

Calculate the conversion of the total daily dose of the prior opioid therapy into the equianalgesic dose of morphine using the appropriate ratio (based on the conversion factor provided in Table S1).

Administer the calculated dose in the most convenient dosing strength of EMBEDA, either as a single dose q24h or in two divided doses q12h. EMBEDA should not be given more frequently than every 12 hours.1

Note: In general, it is safest to give half of the estimated daily morphine demand as the initial dose and to manage inadequate analgesia by supplementation with IR morphine.

Determine the total daily dose of transdermal fentanyl. Note that fentanyl is approximately 50 to 150 times more potent than morphine.

Calculate the conversion of the total daily dose of the current transdermal fentanyl therapy into the equianalgesic dose of morphine, using the appropriate ratio (based on an approximate equianalgesic ratio of 10:1 for 10 µg fentanyl to 1 mg morphine comparison; Table S2).

Administer the calculated dose in the most convenient dosing strength of EMBEDA, either as a single dose q24h or in two divided doses q12h. EMBEDA should not be given more frequently than every 12 hours.1

Note: In general, it is safest to give half of the estimated daily morphine demand as the initial dose and to manage inadequate analgesia by supplementation with IR morphine.

Table S1

Conversion factors for converting the daily dose of prior oral opioids to the daily oral dose of EMBEDA (mg/day prior opioid × factor = mg/day EMBEDA)

Prior oral opioid	Multiply dose by a factor of
Hydrocodone (including combination drugs)2–7	1
Hydromorphone7–9	4
Methadone2,9–12	3
Morphine	1
Oxycodone (including combination drugs)7,13	1.5
Oxymorphone9,14,15	2

Table S2

Converting from transdermal fentanyl to EMBEDA

Transdermal fentanyl daily dose2–6	Equianalgesic morphine daily dose, mg
12.5 µg/h = 300 µg/day	30
25 µg/h = 600 µg/day	60
50 µg/h = 1,200 µg/day	120
75 µg/h = 1,800 µg/day	180
100 µg/h = 2,400 µg/day	240