PAIN MANAGEMENT 101

By: Vicki McCulloch RN, NP & DeAnna Looper RN, CHPN, CHPCA

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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.

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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

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Utilize the WHO Ladder

World Health Organization

• (WHO) “analgesic ladder”

• Follow the steps as indicated.

• Determine if adjuvants are necessary.

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WHO Pain Ladder

STEP 1Non-opioid

+ / - adjuvant

STEP 1Non-opioid

+ / - adjuvant

STEP 2“Mild” opioid for mild-

moderate pain +/- non-opioid

+/- adjuvant

STEP 2“Mild” opioid for mild-

moderate pain +/- non-opioid

+/- adjuvant

STEP 3“Strong” opioid for severe pain

+/- non-opioid+/- adjuvant

STEP 3“Strong” opioid for severe pain

+/- non-opioid+/- adjuvant

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Step 1-Mild Pain

NON-OPIOID MEDICATION OPTIONS

•Acetaminophen(Tylenol)-(Paracetamol)-(Panadol)

•Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Traditional NSAIDSIbuprofen-(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)

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Non-Pharmacological Measures• Environmental controls

Room Temperature Osculating Fan

• Conservation of Energy Frequent rest periods

• Aromatherapy vanilla, peppermint, jasmine, citrus

• Massage Therapysimple back massage to deep muscle massages

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Non-Pharmacological Measures• Physical therapy

• Frequent position changes

• Heat, and cold

• Relaxation, imagery, hypnosis

• Music therapy

• Distraction

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Step 2-Moderate Pain

• Hydrocodone-(Lortab)

• Oxycodone-(Percocet)

• Ultram-(Tramadol)

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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)

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Step 3-Severe Pain

• Morphine-(MS Contin, MSIR)

• Hydromorphone-(Dilaudid)

• Methadone-(Methadose)

• Fentanyl-(Duragesic, Actiq)

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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)

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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”

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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”

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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’’

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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.

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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)

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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 %

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Treatment for Side Effects• Urticaria, pruritus

fexofenadine, 60 mg po bid; diphenhydramine, loratadine, or doxepin, 10–30 mg po q hs

• ConstipationAll 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

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Treatment for Side Effects

• Nausea/Vomiting

Promethazine or Reglan.

Difficult to treat symptoms may respond to Haldol or Benadryl or ”Nausea Blocker” compoundedmedication.

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Treatment for Side Effects

• SedationOpioid-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.

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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.

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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 )

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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.

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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.

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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!

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Questions?

Q & A

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References

Hall, E. J. and N. P. Sykes (2004 ). "Analgesia for patients with advanced disease: I 10.1136/pgmj.2003.015511 " Postgraduate Medical Journal 80 (941 ): 148-154

Levy, M. H. (1996). "Pharmacologic Treatment of Cancer Paindoi: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.

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References

Association, A. M. (1999). "Education for Physicians on End-of-life Care, Module 4: Pain Management."

Attal, 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 " British Journal of Anaesthesia 87 (1 ): 144-152 Br J Anaesth 2001; 87: 144–152

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References

Chappell, Mary Margaret “Aromatherapy for Pain Relief” Arthritis Today 2003 Arthritis Foundation.

Johnson, Daniel, MD, “Dosing on the Road to Oz: Minimizing Opioid Induced Sedation” PoPCRN Research Abstracts J. Intensive Care Med. 2007 May-June, 22(3):173-9

“What are NSAIDs”. OrthodInfo. American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Retrieved 2009 form http://orthoinfo.aaos.org./topic.cfm?topic=a00284