LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Define “pain” as per the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP).
- List commonly used analgesic drug classes and individual drugs; describe
their mechanism of action and identify common and major side effects.
- Recognize the indications for usage of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)
and define the necessary components.
- Define tolerance, dependence, addiction and pseudo-addiction.
- Demonstrate ability to calculate equal-analgesic doses of common opioids
using an equianalgesic table.
- Demonstrate ability to convert from one opioid formulation (parenteral,
oral, transdermal) to another.
- Manage acute pain using patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for both
opioid-naive patients and patients already on chronic maintenance opioid
therapy, and manage transition back to an oral pain regimen.
- Differentiate pain assessment techniques in pediatric, adult and geriatric
patients.
- Identify preventative and therapeutic measures for opioid-associated side
effects.
- Describe
the
multimodal approach to pain management, including non-pharmacologic
measures.
- Select the best medication formulation based on
patient dosing needs.
- Summarize the rationale for the following
recommendations from the Center for Disease Control Guidelines for the
Management of Chronic Pain:
- Consider opioid therapy only if expected
benefits for pain and function outweigh risks
- Before starting opioid therapy for chronic pain,
establish realistic treatment goals for pain and function with the
patient.
- When opioids are used for acute pain prescribe
the lowest effective dose; immediate release formulations; and quantity
no greater than the expected duration of pain severe enough to require
opiates.
REFERENCES:
CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opiates for Pain Control
Opioid Metabolism
What is the best
method of treating acutely worsened chronic pain?
Patient Controlled Analgesia
Chronic Pain Management
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