Adjuvant Analgesics Flashcards
Define Adjuvant Analgesics
- Any drug that has a primary indication other than pain, but is analgesic in some painful conditions
- “Co-analgesic” in palliative care
- administered with primary analgesic
- enhance pain relief
- treat refractory paihn
- allow reduction of primary analgesic to limit side effects
Limitations of adjuvants
- less reliable than opioids
- higher side effects
- slower onset
- best to optimize opioids first, then add adjuvant if necessary
- if another indication exists for adjuvant (depression, for ex), can use earlier
- larger interindividual and intraindiviudal variability
List 6 major classes of adjuvant analgesics
- Multipurpose adjuvants
- Adjuvants for neuropathic pain
- Topical Analgesics
- Adjuvants for Bone Pain
- Adjuvants for MBO
- Adjuvants for MSK pain
Multipurpose analgesics
Antidepressants
- TCA
- SNRI
- SSRI
- Other
Alpha 2 adrenergic agonists
- Clonidine
- Tizanidine
Corticosteroids
- Dex
- prednisone, methylprednisone
Antidepressants : TCAs
- Amitriptiline, Nortriptyline, Desipramine
- 10-25 mg qhs - 50-150 mg po qhs
- Analgesic efficacy in chronic and neuropathic pain
- only evidence for pain in cancer population
- Evidence strongest for Amitriptiline, but nortriptyline preferred as it has lower toxicity and side effects
- Side effects:
- sedation
- confusion
- orthostatic hypotension
- heart block
- weight gain
- arrythmia Qtc
- Ach effects
- Caution:
- with SSRIs
- Ach
- lithium
- tramadol
- Glaucoma, recent MI
TCAs: interactions and side effects
- Cardiac
- Qtc
- caution with BB
- Class c antiarrythmics
- ACH
- mixing with Ach drugs = toxicity
- Serotonin syndrome
- MAOIs, Ondansetron, Serotonerigic opioids (tramadol, methadone, fentanyl)
- Bleeding risk
- Caution with NSAIDS
- CNS depression
-
CYP 2D6 interactions
- SNRIs/SSRIs (venlafaxine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, citalopram, duloxetine, mirtazapine)
What CYP enzyme metabolizes TCAs?
CYP 2D6
SNRIS
- Evidence for analgesia: neuropathic pain, post op mastectomy pain
- Duloxetine 20 mg po od - 60 mg po od
- Venlafaxine 37.5-300 mg po od
- Risk of serotonin syndrome with MAOIs, TCAs, buproprion, buspirone, SSRIs
- SE:
- nausea
- headache
- somnolence
- tremor
- anxiety
- hypertension
- sexual dysfunction
- seizure
- hypertension
- caution in renal failure; dose reduxe venlafaxine
- lowers seizure threshold
Serotonin (or Antidepressant) discontinuation syndrome
- Headache
- Anxiety
- Flu like sx
- Gait instability
- Malaise
- Irritablity
- Insomnia
- Rebound depression
- fatigue
- nausea
SNRIS : drug interactions
Venlafaxine and Duloxetine
- no CYP
- increased serotonin risk when combined with MAOIs, TCAs, buproprion, SSRIs
Precautions with SNRIS
- LOWER seizure threshold
- Hypertension
- Dose reduce in renal impairment
- Avoid in hepatic dysfunction
- Discontinuation syndrome
- taper gradually
Bupropion
- NO CYP
- increased effects of NE, D
- some evidence for neuropathic pain
- Useful for :
- depression
- smokinsg
- ADHD
- activating!
- Side effects:
- SEIZURE
- well tolerated
- fewer weight, sex sx
- some ha, insomnia, tachycardia
- DO NOT USE IN SEIZURE DISORDER
Buproprion dose
75 mg po od -
150 mg po bid/tid
Contraindications to Buproprion
- seizure disorder (lowers threshold)
- anorexia/bulimia
- MAOI within 14 days (serotonin syndrome)
Steroids as adjuvants : when are they useful?
- improve appetite, nausea, malaise, QOL
- limited by toxicity/ side effects
- Helpful for :
- neuropathic pain?
- bone pain
- headache from ICP
- arthralgia
- obstruction of hollow viscus
- liver capsular pain
- MOA:
- reduce peritumour edema
- oncolytic effect on lymphoma
- Taper after 2 weeks to avoid adrenal insufficiency (can be fatal)
Why is dexamethasone often preferred as adjuvant in palliative care?
- Lower mineralocorticoid effects
- less sodium and fluid retention. less K excretion
Comparison of steroids : equivalent doses and antiinflammatory effect
Equivalent dosing and antiinflammatory effect relative to hydrocortisone
- Short acting:
- Hydrocortisone 20 mg : 1
- Cortisone acetate 15 mg : 0.8
-
Intermediate acting:
- Prednisone 5 mg : 4
- Prednisolone 5 mg : 4
- Methylprednisolone 4 mg : 5
-
Long acting
- Dexamethasone 0.75 mg : 30
- Betamethasone 0.6 mg : 30
Starting dexamethasone (dosing)
Severe pain, SCC, SVC syndrome
- 16 mg /day
Less severe pain, weakness, low energy
- 2-4 mg/day
Should rarely exceed 24 mg / day
half life 36 hours
Divide dose to reduce GI side effects
Alpha 2 AGONISTS
- Clonidine, tizanadine
- some evidence for cancer pain, diabetic neuropathy, myofascial pain syndrome
- not usually used
- limited evidence in advanced cancer
Approach to neuropathic pain
- Gabapentinoid
- Analgesic antidepressant
- duloxetine
- TCA
- Steroids
* short term pain crisis - Topicals if localized
* lidocaine - Opioids (IR, then CR)
* usually go with adjuvants
Gabapentin and pregabalin
- Gabapentin
- 100 mg po tid
- max 3600 mg/day
- Pregabalin
- 25-75 mg po od-bid
- 150-300 mg po
- Calcium channel antagonists
- pain relief in 1-2 weeks
- NNT 4.2-6.4
Gabapentin/PRegabalin: contraindications and precautions
- Renal dysfunction
- dose reduce if milkd-mod
- avoid in severe renal dysunfciton
- Discontinuation syndrome
- headache, insomnia, pain, nausea, diarrhea