Pain

Question 1

what is the recommended starting dose of morphine for palliative care patients?

Answer 1

20-30mg of MR morphine + 5mg IR morphine

Question 2

what needs to be prescribed alongside opioids?

Answer 2

laxatives

senna or laxido

Question 3

how is a patient’s breakthrough morphine dose calculated?

Answer 3

1/6th of a patients total daily dose

Question 4

what analgesic is preferred in patients with renal impairment?

Answer 4

oxycodone
severe = alfentanil, fentanyl

Question 5

what are good analgesics for bone pain?

Answer 5

• strong opioids
• bisphosphonates
• radiotherapy

Question 6

what are common side-effects of opioids?

Answer 6

• constipation
• nausea
• drowsiness

Question 7

what equation is used to convert oral codeine to oral morphine?

Answer 7

divide by 10

240mg of codeine = 24mg of morphine

Question 8

what is the equation to convert oral tramadol to oral morphine?

Answer 8

divide by 10

Question 9

what is the side-effect profile of oxycodone compared to morphine?

Answer 9

less:
* sedation
* vomiting
* pruritis

more:
* constipation

Question 10

what is the equation to convert oral morphine to oral oxycodone?

Answer 10

divide by 2

Question 11

what is the equation to convert oral morphine to subcut morphine?

Answer 11

divide by 2

Question 12

how much do you increase morphine by if the patients pain is not controlled in palliative care?

Answer 12

30-50%

Question 13

what is the equation to convert oral morphine to subcut diamorphine?

Answer 13

divide by 3

Question 14

what is the equation to convert oral oxycodone to subcut diamorphine?

Answer 14

divide by 1.5

Question 15

what analgesic is prescribed in raised intracranial pressure in palliative patients?

Answer 15

dexamethasone

Question 16

what is prescribed to a patient with oral mucositis in palliative care?

Answer 16

benzydamine hydrochloride

Question 17

what adjuvant analgesic is prescribed in liver capsular pain?

Answer 17

dexamethasone