title: Corticosteroids as co-analgesics with opioids for cancer pain: a survey of Australian and New Zealand palliative care clinicians.
abstract: Corticosteroids are commonly used as co-analgesics with opioids for cancer pain; however limited quality data exist supporting their efficacy for this purpose. Further, little is known about individual prescribing practices. The current study surveyed members of the Australian New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine about their use of corticosteroids as adjuvant analgesics in cancer pain. It confirmed high rates of utilisation and found variability in starting doses and associated decision-making. Further research is required to determine the efficacy and safety of corticosteroids as co-analgesics in cancer pain management.
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Health and Barwon Health, Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eastman
authors.affiliation: Palliative and Supportive Care, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Le
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid
keywords: cancer pain; co-analgesics; corticosteroids; survey