NMDA Receptor Antagonism in Pain Therapy
NMDA RECEPTOR STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION Print Section Listen The synapse between the primary afferent and secondary afferent neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord is a critical site…
Muscle Relaxants and α2 Agonists for Pain Management
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Skeletal muscle relaxants are frequently used in patients with both acute and chronic pain when a component of muscle spasm is thought to be contributing to…
Antiepileptics for Pain
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have been used in the treatment of chronic pain syndromes for more than 50 years.1–4 Phenytoin, in particular, has been extensively used for…
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs
NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS Print Section Listen Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic agents. They are used to reduce pain, decrease stiffness, and improve function in patients with…
Psychotropic Medications
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Chronic pain is frequently comorbid with both anxiety and mood disorders. Although many pain medicine practitioners may not manage psychiatric conditions, it is increasingly important to…
Urine Drug Testing
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Urine drug testing (UDT) is considered one of the mainstays of adherence monitoring in conjunction with prescription monitoring programs and other screening tools; however, UDT is…
The Interface of Pain Management and Chemical Dependency
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen With the passage of the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act in 1914, the United States federal government put states, as well as physicians, nurses, and patients, on…
Rising Standards for Risk Management in Opioid Use for Chronic Pain
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Similar to treatments that carry substantial risks and must be used with great care, the drug group collectively known as opioid analgesics can be therapeutically desirable…
Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Nerve Blockade
OVERVIEW Print Section Listen GENERAL DATA AND INFORMATION Regional anesthesia (often called peripheral nerve blockade) involves injecting a volume of local anesthetic in specific locations around nerves that supply various…
Pain Management in End of Life: Palliative Care
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen The basic principles of the diagnosis and management of pain syndromes are similar across all clinical settings. Details of the application of these principles, however, can…
