Pharmacologic approaches to the control of cancer pain Journal Article
| Author: | Portenoy, R. K. |
| Article Title: | Pharmacologic approaches to the control of cancer pain |
| Abstract: | Numerous surveys suggest that 30-50 percent of cancer patients who are undergoing active therapy and more than three- quarters of those who have advanced disease suffer moderate to severe pain. There is abundant evidence that pain is usually poorly assessed and inadequately treated. The author describes in detail three steps that are required for the pharmacologic management of cancer pain: a comprehensive assessment, selection of appropriate analgesic modalities, and consideration of pharmacologic issues. He also iscusses a model approach to pharmacologic treatment advocated by the World Health Organization called the “analgesic ladder,” which involves three categories of analgesic drugs —nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioid analgesics, and adjuvant analgesics. If expertly applied, this approach produces analgesia in approximately 70 percent of patients who have cancer pain. © 1990 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved. |
| Keywords: | review; quality of life; nephrotoxicity; gastrointestinal toxicity; pethidine; acetylsalicylic acid; paracetamol; ibuprofen; naproxen; nonsteroid antiinflammatory agent; salsalate; sulindac; methadone; morphine; anticonvulsive agent; corticosteroid; drug therapy; hydromorphone; analgesia; pain assessment; levomepromazine; intravenous drug administration; theoretical study; analgesic agent; narcotic agent; mexiletine; diamorphine; levorphanol; oxycodone; oral drug administration; tricyclic antidepressant agent; intramuscular drug administration; codeine; hydrocodone; oxymorphone; pentazocine; dextropropoxyphene; nalbuphine; levodopa; phenylbutazone; baclofen; butorphanol; intranasal drug administration; meclofenamic acid; cancer; human; piroxicam; choline magnesium trisalicylate; diflunisal; intrathecal drug administration; mefenamic acid; tolmetin; tocainide; sublingual drug administration; rectal drug administration; suprofen |
| Journal Title: | Journal of Psychosocial Oncology |
| Volume: | 8 |
| Issue: | 2-3 |
| ISSN: | 0734-7332 |
| Publisher: | Taylor & Francis Group |
| Date Published: | 1990-01-01 |
| Start Page: | 75 |
| End Page: | 107 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1300/J077v08n02_05 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Article -- Export Date: 27 January 2020 -- Source: Scopus |
