Cancer pain study questions need for extra paracetamol pills

NCT ID NCT05051735

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Oslo University Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study looked at whether cancer patients already taking strong opioids like morphine can stop taking paracetamol without their pain getting worse. 204 adults with metastatic cancer and stable pain on both medications were randomly assigned to continue paracetamol or switch to a placebo. The goal was to see if dropping paracetamol is just as good for pain control, potentially reducing the burden of taking many pills each day.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Paracetamol (acetaminophen)
What this could lead to: If stopping paracetamol proves non-inferior, patients could take fewer pills daily without worsening pain, reducing pill burden.
What could go wrong: The trial is completed but results are not yet reported. Even if non-inferior, individual responses may vary, and some patients might need paracetamol for optimal pain control.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cancer Cancer Pain metastatic malignant neoplasm neoplasm Pain

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CANCER CANCER PAIN

Contacts and locations

Locations

Akershus University Hospital

Lørenskog, 1478, Norway
Edinburgh Cancer Research

Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori

Milan, Italy
Førde Hospital Trust

Førde, Førde, 6812, Norway
Helse Møre og Romsdal

Ålesund, 6026, Norway
Makere University Hospital

Kampala, Uganda
OsloUH

Oslo, 0424, Norway
St. Olavs Hospital

Trondheim, 7030, Norway
Stavanger University Hospital

Stavanger, Stavanger, 4011, Norway
Sørlandet Hospital Trust

Kristiansand, Kristiansand, 4604, Norway
Telemark Hospital Trust

Skien, Norway
Universitetssykehuset Nord-Norge

Tromsø, 9019, Norway
Vestfold Hospital trust

Tønsberg, 3103, Norway
Vestre Viken Hospital Trust

Drammen, Drammen, 3004, Norway
Østfold Hospital Trust

Sarpsborg, Grålum, 1714, Norway

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