Diazepam as an adjuvant analgesic to morphine for pain due to skeletal muscle spasm.
Side effects of morphine are common when it is given in titrated doses to control severe pain in advanced cancer. We describe a case of severe back pain resistant to parenteral morphine accompanied by muscle spasm, in which the addition of diazepam both had an opioid-sparing effect and provided superior symptomatic relief. Diazepam appears to have a specific role as an adjuvant analgesic for pain due to skeletal muscle spasm associated with painful vertebral metastases.
Srivastava
Manish
M
The Harry R Horvitz Center for Palliative Medicine, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, 9500 Euclid Avenue, M-76, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Walsh
Declan
D
D001416:Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000556:secondary*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D013035:Spasm / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000556:secondary*
D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D003975:Diazepam