Reaction time in cancer patients receiving peripherally acting analgesics alone or in combination with opioids

Continuous Reaction Time (CRT) was measured in cancer patients receiving peripherally acting analgesics either alone (n = 16) or in combination with opioids (n = 16). Comparison was performed matching the patients from each group for age and performance status. Statistically significant prolongations of CRT and higher sedation scores were seen in the opioid group, while performance status did not have any influence on CRT.