MEDICATION FOR CANCER PAIN: NARCOTIC OR OPIOID DRUGS
The early introduction of forms of these powerful drugs which can be taken by mouth should take place if the more simple pain-killers are not effective.
The myth that narcotic drugs should be avoided until the pain becomes severe has resulted in a great number of patients suffering unnecessarily. It is important for those suffering from pain associated with cancer and their medical practitioner to know that if pain is controlled early in the cancer by adequate tailoring of the dose, tolerance and rapid escalation of dose should not occur.
The narcotics used for cancer pain include morphine and methadone. Although these cause some depression of respiration (breathing) in some , dependence should not be a problem when supervision is adequate.
Other narcotics, such as Endone and its suppository equivalent Proladone, are useful pain relievers and may be of more value in the early stages prior to hospital admission. These drugs appear to act for a similar period as morphine.
A slow release form of morphine has been available outside of Australia for some time. At the time this book is being written its introduction here has been held up by bureaucratic involvement.
Administering the drugs
Where sufferers cannot tolerate continuing or massive amounts of injections of strong pain-killers or when even large doses have been ineffective, the drug can be administered on demand through direct injection into the spinal fluid or under the skin. The drug can be introduced by a tube which can be inserted into the spine and left in place. The drug is then introduced under the control of automatic battery driven pumps.
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