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Table 5.
Comparison of selected opioids for moderate to severe pain (WHO step III)
In many countries, since 1977, oral morphine has been used in Hospices and Palliative Care Units as the drug of choice for the management of chronic cancer pain of moderate to severe intensity because it provides effective pain relief, is widely tolerated, is simple to be administered and is cheap. Moreover, morphine is the only opioid analgesic considered in the WHO essential drug list for adults and children with pain