title: Pain Management and Symptom-Oriented Drug Therapy in Palliative Care.
abstract: SUMMARY: Patients with advanced life-limiting disease often suffer from symptoms that considerably impair their quality of life and that of their families. Palliative care aims to alleviate these symptoms by a multidimensional approach. Pharmacotherapy is an essential component. The objective of this review is to give an overview of symptom-oriented drug therapy for the most important symptoms in palliative care. Leading symptoms that affect quality of life include pain, dyspnea, nausea and emesis, weakness and disorientation. Careful examination and history taking help to understand the individual mechanisms underlying these symptoms. Specific pharmacotherapy provides an efficient way to achieve symptom control in the context of palliative care.
authors.affiliation: Division of Palliative Medicine, University of Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bükki
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sittl
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ostgathe