Chapter 4 - Pain Flashcards
What is the difference between acute and chronic pain?
Acute - less than 12 weeks
Chronic - more than 12 weeks
How is pain managed in children under 16 years?
Paracetamol or ibuprofen
Switch to the other
Alternate between both
How frequently is paracetamol given?
Every 4-6 hours
Maximum 4 doses per day
How frequently is ibuprofen given?
Every 8 hours
Describe the who analgesic ladder
Step 1. Non-opioids
Step 2. Mild opioids
Step 3. Strong opioids
How frequently should analgesics be reviewed in chronic pain?
At least annually
Is paracetamol:
a) antipyretic
b) anti inflammatory
c) analgesic
a and c
What is the maximum recommended paracetamol dose in
a) >50 kg
b) <50 kg
a) 4g
b) 2g
Why is paracetamol preferred over NSAIDs, especially in the elderly?
Less irritating to the stomach
Less CV and GI complications
What is the maximum pack size of paracetamol that can be sold to the public?
32
What is the maximum number of paracetamol tablets/capsules that can be sold to the public?
100
What are the dangers associated with paracetamol overdose?
Hepatocellular necrosis
Renal tubular necrosis (less common)
What single dosage of paracetamol may cause hepatocellular necrosis?
Generally 10g, or 75mg/kg taken in less than 1 hour
Or 5g if risk factors are present
What are the risk factors for paracetamol overdose?
Alcohol dependency Malnutrition Chronic dehydration Body weight <50kg Severe liver disease Increasing age Concomitant use of hepatic enzyme inducers e.g. rifampin, phenytoin
What are the symptoms associated with paracetamol overdose?
Initially nausea and vomiting
Liver related side effects may occur later
How is paracetamol overdose managed?
If above the treatment line, use IV acetylcysteine
How soon should acetylcysteine ideally be given in paracetamol overdose?
Within 8 hours
NSAIDs have a strong anti-inflammatory action?
Ketoprofen
Piroxicam
NSAIDs have a moderate anti-inflammatory action?
Ibuprofen, naproxen
What is the mechanism of action of NSAIDs?
Inhibit COX-1 and COX-2
What is the effect of inhibiting COX-1 enzymes?
GI irritation due to reducing prostaglandin production
Inhibiting platelet aggregation due to reducing the production of thromboxane A2, so increasing the risk of bleeding
Regulates GFR
What is the effect of inhibiting COX-2 enzymes?
Reduces pain
Reduces inflammation
Reduces fever
What is the main advantage of selective NSAIDS over non-selective NSAIDs?
Reduced GI side effects
What is the main disadvantage of selective NSAIDS over non-selective NSAIDs?
Increased cardiovascular side effects
If a patient with CVD risk factors requires and NSAID, what should be given?
Non-selective NSAID + PPI
Give some examples of non-selective NSAIDs
Ibuprofen Naproxen Mefanamic acid Diclofenax Meloxicam
Give some examples of selective NSAIDs
Celecoxib
Etoricoxib
Why should NSAIDs be taken with food?
To reduce gastric irritation
List some side effects of NSAIDs
GI side effects CV side effects Renal impairment Fluid retention Bronchospasm in some patients
Which NSAIDs have the highest risk of GI side effects?
Piroxicam
Ketoprofen
Which NSAIDs have the lowest risk of GI side effects?
Ibuprofen
Etoricoxib
Celecoxib
Which NSAIDs have the highest risk of cardiovascular side effects?
COXIBs
Diclofenac
Ibuprofen daily dose >2.4g
Which NSAIDs have the lowest risk of cardiovascular side effects?
Ibuprofen daily dose <1.2g
Naproxen
List some cautions/contraindications of NSAIDs
Severe heart failure Uncontrolled hypertension Previous GI ulcer Asthma History of NSAID hypersensitivity Renal impairment On an anticoagulant
How do NSAIDs worsen hypertension and heart failure?
Vasoconstriction
Reducing sodium and water excretion
How do NSAIDs cause sodium and water retention?
Block the production of PGE2, which regulates sodium, chloride and water transport in the LoH
At what eGFR do most NSAIDs need to be avoided in?
<30
Should NSAIDs be used in pregnancy?
Avoid unless the benefit outweighs the risk
Why isn’t phenylbutazone often used?
It is associated with serious side effects, especially haematological side effects
When are celecoxib and etoricoxib used?
Both:
Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis
Etoricoxib is also used for acute gout
What are the disadvantages of compound preparations for pain?
They can not be easily titrated
There are more side effects
Why were co-proximal tablets discontinued?
Concerns over safety
Toxic in overdose
Many people were using it to commit suicide
List some CNS depressants
Opioids Sedatives Benzodiazepines Phenothiazines Alcohol
What is the maximum daily dose of codeine?
240mg
What is the minimum age codeine can be given to?
12 years old
When shouldn’t codeine be given in 12-18 year olds
People with breathing difficulties
People who have had tonsillectomy for sleep apnoea
What is the maximum daily dose of dihydrocodeine?
180mg
What is the usual daily dose and maximum daily dose of tramadol?
Usual dose - 50-100mg every 4-6 hours when required
Maximum daily dose - 400mg
What produces more opioid like side effects, codeine or tramadol?
Codeine
What is the interaction between tramadol and SSRIs?
Both increase the risk of serotonin syndrome
Both lower the seizure threshold
What class of drug is tramadol?
Schedule 3 CD
How frequently is immediate release morphine given?
Every 4 hours
How frequently is modified release morphine given?
Every 12 hours
What drug is usually given second line if morphine is not effective or not tolerated?
Oxycodone
Which opioid is only partially reversed by naloxone in overdose?
Buprenorphine
What has a longer duration of action, immediate release morphine, or buprenorphine?
Buprenorphine
What are the advantages of diamorphine over morphine?
May cause less side effects including nausea and hypotension
May be preferred in syringe drivers as it has a greater solubility, so a smaller dose can be administered in the same volume
Which is more sedating, methadone or morphine?
Methadone
Which has a higher tendency to cause nausea, vomiting and constipation, morphine or tapentadol?
Morphine
Why should pentazocaine be avoided after an MI?
In can increase blood pressure and cardiac work
Does pethidine produce short or long lasting analgesia?
Short acting
This makes it useful for labour?
What is the main issue with pethidine?
It is metabolised to norpethidine, which may cause convulsions
When is dependable to opioids not a concern?
In palliative care
What is tolerance?
When a person no longer responds to a drug in the way that they used to
So a higher dose is required to produce the same effect
What is dependance?
When a person feels like they need to take a drug
They may have difficulty controlling its use
They may experience withdrawal symptoms when the dose is reduced or stopped
Can codeine be used in renal impairment?
Caution in mild to severe impairment
Avoid in severe impairment
Can morphine be used in renal impairment?
Yes, but it is not the recommended opioid and an alternative should be used
Why is morphine not recommended in renal impairment?
It’s active metabolite (MG6) accumulates in renal impairment
MG6 has a greater effect that morphine, so it’s accumulation can result in toxicity and increased side effects
Try to give an alternative that doesn’t accumulate in renal impairment, such as oxycodone, buprenorphine or fentanyl
Why is fentanyl appropriate in renal impairment?
It is metabolised into inactive, non-toxic metabolites
Why is oxycodone appropriate in renal impairment?
It doesn’t accumulate in renal impairment
Why is buprenorphine appropriate in renal impairment?
It is primarily excreted in the bile
How is the pain in sickle cell disease managed?
Paracetamol
NSAIDs
Weak opioids
Strong opioids
Use of an NSAID alongside opioids may potentiate analgesia and allow for lower doses of opioids to be used
What alangesia can be used in dental pain?
Benzydamine
Paracetamol
NSAIDs - don’t give anything that increases bleeding before a dental procedure
What can be used for temporomandibular dysfunction?
Diazepam can be used in the short term
It can help with both the pain and anxiety
Long term, NSAIDs can be used for the pain
What is temporomandibular dysfunction?
When people grind or clench their teeth in the day or night
It can be related to anxiety
And if can cause muscle spasm
How is the pain associated with dysmenorrhea managed?
Oral contraceptive
Paracetamol/NSAID
Antiemetic if needed
Antispasmodic
What is patient controlled analgesia?
When there is a background infusion of analgesic
If needed, a person can increase their analgesic dose up to a predetermined level
Can codeine be used in pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Pregnancy - yes
Breastfeeding - no
Which trimesters can codeine be given in pregnancy?
All in the short term
But if taken near labour, it may cause neonatal respiratory depression
If taken long term it may cause withdrawal symptoms in the baby
What is the paracetamol dose for a 4 month old baby?
60mg every 4-6 hours
Maximum 4 doses daily
What is the paracetamol dose for a 6 year old child?
240-250mg every 4-6 hours
Maximum 4 doses daily