The efficacy of opioids in cancer pain syndromes.
The treatment of pain in the patient with cancer necessitates careful assessment and definition of factors contributing to the pain complaint. We describe 3 cases of patients who had cancer, complained of pain, and were inappropriately treated with escalating doses of opioids. Opioid analgesic medications are commonly used in the management of pain in patients with cancer. Failure to respond to this treatment, the development of increasing pain, and the report of new side effects should prompt reassessment of opioid use.
Fitzgibbon
Dermot R
DR
Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Neurology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195 USA Department of Anesthesiology and Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195 USA.
Galer
Bradley S
BS
D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
D009294:Narcotics