Analgesia Issues in Palliative Care

Abstract

Some recent literature relevant to analgesia in palliative care is reviewed. Reports on clinical use of bisphosphonates for bone pain in cancer, controlled release opioids, selection of laxatives for opioid-induced constipation and the calcium channel blocker nifedipine as an analgesic are described.

Key Words:

• Analgesia
• palliative care
• bone pain
• controlled release opioids
• opioid-induced constipation
• nifedipine
• calcium channel blocker

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Perry G. Fine

Cherokee Layson-Wolf, PharmD, is Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. At the time that this review was conducted, she was a Community Care Pharmacy Practice Resident at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Perry G. Fine, MD, is Professor of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine and Associate Medical Director, Pain Management Center at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City; and National Medical Director, VistaCare, based in Scottsdale, AZ. This commentary is based on an article in Dr. Fine's VistaCare Palliative Medicine Monitor.