Non-opioid analgesics
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780198840480.003.0008
Breakthrough pain is a heterogeneous condition. Non-opioid analgesics are a diverse group of drugs. Non-opioid analgesics may have a role in the management of breakthrough pain. Data on the use of most non-opioid analgesics is limited. Paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are generally used as around-the-clock medication, although they may also be used as rescue medication. Systematic reviews of oral NSAIDs have confirmed benefits in cancer pain. Midazolam has been used in the treatment of refractory incident pain secondary to bone metastases and there is the potential for its use in the management of breakthrough pain secondary to muscle spasm. Ketamine is employed in anaesthetic doses in the management of procedural pain and in the management of predominantly non-malignant breakthrough pain. There is conflicting evidence for the use of nitrous oxide in the management of breakthrough pain.
Access to the complete content on Oxford Medicine Online requires a subscription or purchase. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts for each book and chapter without a subscription.
Please subscribe or login to access full text content.
If you have purchased a print title that contains an access token, please see the token for information about how to register your code.
For questions on access or troubleshooting, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.
