Painkiller showdown: can cancer patients ditch paracetamol while on opioids?

NCT ID NCT05088876

Terminated Symptom relief Sponsor: Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study looked at whether cancer patients already taking strong opioids (like morphine) still need paracetamol for pain control. Researchers planned to have 7 participants stop their regular paracetamol in a blinded way, but the trial was terminated early. The goal was to see if pain levels stayed the same without paracetamol.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Paracetamol
What this could lead to: If successful, it could show that paracetamol is unnecessary for some cancer patients already on strong opioids, simplifying their medication.
What could go wrong: The trial was terminated early with only 7 participants, so results are very limited and not reliable. It may not apply to all patients.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Pain

As listed by the trial registrant

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

PAIN

Contacts and locations

Locations

Inselspital, Bern University Hospital

Bern, Switzerland
Kantonsspital Baden

Baden, Switzerland

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