Avinza - 24-h sustained-release oral morphine therapy

Avinza is a once-daily, extended-release oral morphine preparation. It has a pharmacokinetic profile that exhibits less peak-to-trough fluctuations in plasma concentration whilst providing analgesia statistically identical to that produced by MS Contin (controlled-release morphine sulfate), Oxycontin (oxycodone HCl controlled-release) and six doses of oral morphine sulfate administered every 4 h. Avinza improves quality of sleep by several measures but interestingly gives the best sleep improvement when given in the morning rather than at night. It causes the same side effects of other opioids: constipation, nausea, vomiting, somnolence and mood swings. Doses of 30 - 60 mg/day have been shown to be well tolerated by patients with osteoarthritis (even in the elderly), who have failed other medications.