PAIN MANAGEMENT 101
By: Vicki McCulloch RN, NP & DeAnna Looper RN, CHPN, CHPCA Expect more from us. We do.
Objectives
• Identify a step-wise approach to pain management. • Identify the WHO Pain Ladder. • Identify non-pharmacological pain control measures. • Identify adjuvant treatment measures. • Identify common myths and truths • Identify common side effects and treatment options. Expect more from us. We do.
Pain Management Principles
• Use Multi-Treatment and Multi-Discipline Approach • Combine opioids with non-opioid medications • Non-pharmaceutical approaches • Include family and caregiver in planning • Include the patient! • Coordinate with facility • Coordinate with all providers- • Primary Care Provider • Nursing Home Physician • Hospice IDG Members Expect more from us. We do.
Utilize the WHO Ladder
World Health Organization
• (WHO) “analgesic ladder”
• Follow the steps as indicated.
• Determine if adjuvants are necessary. Expect more from us. We do.
WHO Pain Ladder
STEP 3 “Strong” opioid for severe pain +/- non-opioid +/- adjuvant STEP 2 “Mild” opioid for mild- moderate pain +/- non- opioid +/- adjuvant
STEP 1 Non-opioid + / - adjuvant Expect more from us. We do.
Step 1-Mild Pain
NON-OPIOID MEDICATION OPTIONS
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)-(Paracetamol)-(Panadol) • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Traditional NSAIDS Ibuprofen-(Motrin) Aspirin-(Bayer) Naproxen- (Aleve) Nabumetone-(Relafen) Cox-2 Inhibitors Celecoxib-(Celebrex) Rofecoxib-(Vioxx) Valdecoxib-(Bextra)
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Adjuvants • Antidepressants amitriptyline-(Elavil) nortriptyline- (Pamelor)
• Anticonvulsants gabapentin-(Neurontin) carbamazepine-(Tegretol)
• Antispasmodics dicycloverine-(Bentyl) scopolamine-(Transderm Scop) • Steroids prednisone-(Deltasone) methylprednisolone-(Medrol) Expect more from us. We do.
Non-Pharmacological Measures • Environmental controls Room Temperature Osculating Fan
• Conservation of Energy Frequent rest periods
• Aromatherapy vanilla, peppermint, jasmine, citrus
• Massage Therapy simple back massage to deep muscle massages Expect more from us. We do.
Non-Pharmacological Measures • Physical therapy
• Frequent position changes
• Heat, and cold
• Relaxation, imagery, hypnosis
• Music therapy
• Distraction Expect more from us. We do.
Step 2-Moderate Pain
• Hydrocodone-(Lortab)
• Oxycodone-(Percocet)
• Ultram-(Tramadol) Expect more from us. We do.
Adjuvants • Antidepressants amitriptyline-(Elavil) nortriptyline- (Pamelor)
• Anticonvulsants gabapentin-(Neurontin) carbamazepine- (Tegretol)
• Antispasmodics dicycloverine-(Bentyl) scopolamine- (Transderm Scop)
• Steroids prednisone-(Deltasone) methylprednisolone- (Medrol) Expect more from us. We do.
Step 3-Severe Pain
• Morphine-(MS Contin, MSIR)
• Hydromorphone-(Dilaudid)
• Methadone-(Methadose)
• Fentanyl-(Duragesic, Actiq) Expect more from us. We do.
Adjuvants • Antidepressants amitriptyline-(Elavil) nortriptyline- (Pamelor)
• Anticonvulsants gabapentin-(Neurontin) carbamazepine-(Tegretol)
• Antispasmodics dicycloverine-(Bentyl) scopolamine-(Transderm Scop)
• Steroids prednisone-(Deltasone) methylprednisolone-(Medrol) Expect more from us. We do.
Common Myths
“I will become addicted to pain medication”
“Use of opioid will shorten length of life”
“Taking pain medication will mask pain and delay diagnosis”
“Starting pain medication in early stage of disease will lead to lack of options in future” Expect more from us. We do.
Common Myths
“Patients can not drive or carry out normal activity”
“These might make me drugged out”
“They will cause the patient to stop breathing” Expect more from us. We do.
The Truth
• In advanced disease patients do not become addicted to opioids.
• Will not shorten life if used properly and if doses are titrated—controlling pain may even lengthen life.
• Opioid use at an earlier stage of disease does not mean that options later in the disease progression will be ‘‘used up’’ Expect more from us. We do.
The Truth
• Respiratory depression is one of the last symptoms with titration.
• Sedation can be transient or managed.
• During chronic use and slow titration normal activity can be maintained and even improved. Expect more from us. We do.
Common Side Effects & Statistics • Constipation up to 80 % • Not transient • Nausea or vomiting 15–30 % • Often transient lasting 2–3 days • Sedation 20–60% • Often transient at initiation or dose increase • Confusion or hallucinations -No figures available • May herald toxicity • Myoclonic jerks- Up to 60% (at higher doses) • May herald toxicity, check for renal failure • (Hall and Sykes 2004) Expect more from us. We do.
Common Side Effects & Statistics • Respiratory depression -Rare in chronic dosing. • Stop opioid for a few hours, restart at 30%–50% of dose, • use naloxone in 100–200 mg increments only if respiratory rate ,8–10/min • Xerostomia Common • Exclude candidiasis and other drugs; offer ice, Artificial salivas or pilocarpine may help • Urinary retention Rare • cholinergic agonists may help • Pruritus 2–10 % Expect more from us. We do.
Treatment for Side Effects • Urticaria, pruritus fexofenadine, 60 mg po bid; diphenhydramine, loratadine, or doxepin, 10–30 mg po q hs
• Constipation All patients on routine opioids should be started on bowel program unless contraindicated.
Start with routine Senna or bisacodyl. Add stool softener
If no BM in two days add MOM or lactulose Expect more from us. We do.
Treatment for Side Effects
• Nausea/Vomiting
Promethazine or Reglan.
Difficult to treat symptoms may respond to Haldol or Benadryl or ”Nausea Blocker” compounded medication. Expect more from us. We do.
Treatment for Side Effects
• Sedation Opioid-induced sedation usually disappears over a few days as tolerance develops.
Ritalin was effective in reducing sedation in 90% of cancer patients.
If undesired sedation persists, a different opioid or an alternate route of administration may provide relief. Expect more from us. We do.
Treatment for Side Effects Delirium (rare) Try reducing dose or changing opioid agent
• Respiratory depression (rare) Try reducing dose or changing opioid agent
Narcan only in severe cases as it can cause withdrawal symptoms in long term opioid users. Expect more from us. We do.
Tips for Effective Pain Management • First choice for severe pain is Morphine
• Follow the WHO pain ladder
• Consider NSAIDs and other non-opioids
• Identify and dispel ‘‘myths’’ • (Hall and Sykes 2004 ) Expect more from us. We do.
Pain Management Tips 101
• Use one long acting medication and one short acting for breakthrough pain.
• Increase the long acting medication if ineffective.
• Do not crush long acting medications
• Avoid “mixing” narcotics
• Start at the lowest possible dose first. Expect more from us. We do.
Pain Management Tips 101
• Don’t wait until pain is severe before starting patient on pain management regimen.
• Consider ATC dosing.
• ALWAYS perform a detailed pain assessment!
• Determine the TYPE of pain before implementing a treatment plan. Expect more from us. We do.
Pain Management Tips 101
• All patients should be started on bowel program immediately on initiation.
• Change agent for severe side effects or inadequate control.
• Oral route is the most effective! Expect more from us. We do.
Questions?
Q & A Expect more from us. We do.
References
Hall, E. J. and N. P. Sykes (2004 ). "Analgesia for pa ents with advanced disease: I 10.1136/pgmj.2003.015511 " Postgraduate Medical Journal 80 (941 ): 148-154
Levy, M. H. (1996). "Pharmacologic Treatment of Cancer Pain doi:10.1056/NEJM199610103351507." New England Journal of Medicine 335(15): 1124-1132.
Shaheen, P. E., D. Walsh, et al. (2009). "Opioid Equianalgesic Tables: Are They All Equally Dangerous?" Journal of pain and symptom management 38(3): 409-417. Expect more from us. We do.
References
Associa on, A. M. (1999). "Educa on for Physicians on End-of-life Care, Module 4: Pain Management."
A al, N., G. Cruccu, et al. (2006). "EFNS guidelines on pharmacological treatment of neuropathic pain." European Journal of Neurology 13(11): 1153-1169.
Chou, R., G. J. Fanciullo, et al. (2009). "Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Chronic Opioid Therapy in Chronic Noncancer Pain." The journal of pain : official journal of the American Pain Society 10(2): 113-130.e22.
Eccleston, C. (2001 ). "Role of psychology in pain management 10.1093/bja/87.1.144 " Bri sh Journal of Anaesthesia 87 (1 ): 144-152 Br J Anaesth 2001; 87: 144–152 Expect more from us. We do.
References
Chappell, Mary Margaret “Aromatherapy for Pain Relief” Arthri s Today 2003 Arthri s Founda on.
Johnson, Daniel, MD, “Dosing on the Road to Oz: Minimizing Opioid Induced Seda on” PoPCRN Research Abstracts J. Intensive Care Med. 2007 May-June, 22(3):173-9
“What are NSAIDs”. OrthodInfo. American Associa on of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Retrieved 2009 form h p:// orthoinfo.aaos.org./topic.cfm?topic=a00284