Pain Flashcards
sub-i wards
Define “pain” as per the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP).
An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage.
List commonly used analgesic drug classes and individual drugs.
Morphine Hydromorphone Codeine Fentanyl Oxycodone Hydrocodone Methadone
What are opiates’ mechanism of action?
- What secondary NT system do they act on?
- Which receptor mediates their dependence properties?
Bind mu, delta, and kappa receptors. Cause disinhibition of mesolimbic dopaminergic system (inhibits GABAergic neurons).
- Dependence-producing properties mediated thru mu receptors.
What are some signs and sx of opiate OD?
- Unconsciousness
- Miosis
- Hypotension
- Bradycardia
- Respiratory depression
- Pulmonary edema
- Blue lips
- Unresponsive to stimuli
What are some signs and sx of opiate WITHDRAWAL?
- Anxiety
- Dysphoria
- Craving
- Drug-seeking
- Sleep disturbances
- N/V/D
- Lacrimation
- Rhinorrhea
- Yawning
- Piloerection
- Chills
- Gooseflesh (‘cold turkey’)
- Mydriasis
- Cramps
- Fever
- Involuntary movements (“kicking the habit”).
List some STRONG opiates.
- Meperidine
- Methadone
- Buprenorphine
- Oxymorphone
- Fentanyl
List some MODERATE opiates.
- Oxycodone
- Hydrocodone
- Morphine
- Codeine
- Pentazocine (mild-mod)
List 2 opiate reversal agents.
- Naloxone
- Naltrexone
List the most common NSAIDs.
- Aspirin + salicylates
- Celecoxib
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
- Oxaproxin
- Indomethacin
- Diclofenac
- Ketorolac
What is the MoA of traditional NSAIDs?
Nonselective (reversible) inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2
- Celecoxib is COX-2 inhibitor only
Indications for NSAIDs?
- Fever
- Pain
- Inflammation
- RA
- OA
- Gout
Adverse effects of NSAIDs?
- GI/stomach bleeding (5-10% fatality)
- Ulcers
- Acute renal failure (from ischemia)
- Bleeding
- Increased risk MI + CVA.
When are NSAIDs contraindicated?
- Unique contraindications for ASA?
- GI ulcers
- Bleeding disorders
- Renal disorders (elderly)
- Previous hypersensitivity to ASA (airway compromise in sensitive asthmatics when pts given NSAIDs/ASA)
- Pregnancy
- Increased risk for CV dz (especially w/celecoxib).
- ASA: children w/febrile viral infections. ASA not typically given to children.
- Gout (inhibits uric acid secretions at low doses).
Antidote to ASA OD?
Sodium bicarbonate.
- Found in Oil of Wintergreen.
What is the MoA behind ASA’s anti-platelet function?
Blocks platelet’s TXA2 w/o blocking endothelial PGI2
What is the name of the syndrome (and what is it?) that can develop if you give ASA to a child?
Reye’s syndrome: often fatal, liver degeneration, encephalitis.
Why is celecoxib sometimes preferred over other NSAIDs?
- What is the downside, and why?
Fewer GI and bleeding toxicities than traditional NSAIDs (still has renal tox.)
- Otherwise not preferable due to increased CVD risk (^ coagulation by blocking endothelial PGI2, not blocking platelet’s TXA2)
Which NSAID is mainly used as IV analgesic as a replacement for opioid analgesics?
Ketorolac
What is acetaminophen’s MoA?
Potent COX-2 inhibitor in CNS, weak COX-1/2 inhibitor in periphery. Stimulates cannabinoid receptors.
What are some indications for acetaminophen?
Fever, pain (NOT anti-platelet or anti-inflam.). Reduces fever/pain in children w/viral infections (avoid Reye’s), PUD, hemophilia, and pts w/ASA hypersensitivity
What is behind the toxicity of acetaminophen?
Increased NAPQI, reduced glutathione –> hepatotoxicity.
What is the antidote to acetaminophen OD?
N-acetyl cysteine.
- Effects enhanced by chronic alcohol (induces CYP2E1)
Most common side effects of opiates?
- Others?
Most common:
- Constipation, somnolence/mental clouding
Others:
- Respiratory depression
- Sedation
- N/V
- Itching
- Urinary retention
Meperidine: MoA?
Kappa opioid receptor agonist (also binds K+ channels, muscarinic receptors, and DA transporters)
Methadone: MoA?
Mu and delta opioid receptor agonist, NMDA (glutamate) agonist
MoA of naloxone + naltrexone?
Antagonizes mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors
What’s the difference between the functions of naloxone and naltrexone?
- Naloxone: for opioid OD (reversal)
- Naltrexone: prevents relapse s/p opioid/alcohol detox
Which opiate can cause serotonin syndrome?
Meperidine
Recognize the indications for usage of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). (5)
- Post-operative pain
- Severe acute pain
- Acute exacerbations of chronic pain
- Cancer pain
- Patients unable to take oral medications
What are some contraindications for PCA? (2)
- Poor understanding of the PCA
2. Poor health care support for PCA
What are some routes of adminstering PCA?
- IV PCA
- Epidural (PCEA)
- Other routes are intrathecal / transdermal (E-Trans) / surgical incisional (On-Q pumps) / intra-articular (On-Q pumps) etc.
Review some drugs commonly used in PCA:
- Opioids: Morphine, Fentanyl and Hydromorphone
- Local anesthetics: Bupivacaine and Ropivacaine.
- Other drugs: Clonidine, Baclofen etc.
- Various combinations of the above drugs to achieve synergistic effect and to minimize side effects.
*Name the 7 core components to consider when starting PCA.
- Concentration
- Total amount
- Loading dose
- Patient dose or Demand dose
- Lockout interval
- Basal rate
- 1 or 4 hour limit
In PCA, what is meant by Concentration?
- E.g. with morphine?
The amount of the drug per ml of the solution.
- E.g. morphine concentration is 1 or 5 mg/mL.
In PCA, what is the “total amount” given with IV pumps? For epidural pumps?
- 30 mL for IV pumps
- 250 mL for epidural pumps
In PCA, what is the Loading dose?
- E.g. with morphine?
The dose given in frequent intervals to load the receptors and decrease severe pain.
- E.g., ‘morphine 2 mg q 5 minutes to a maximum of 20 mg’.
- Opioid tolerant patients will obviously need more.
- Individual titration is essential.
In PCA, what is the Patient dose / Demand dose?
- E.g. with morphine?
The dose provided by the pump when the patient presses the ‘button’. This obviates the need to call the nurse each time.
- E.g., morphine 1 or 2 mg.
- Opioid tolerant patients and patients in severe pain with movement (dynamic pain or incidental pain) may need more
In PCA, what is the Lockout interval?
- E.g. with morphine?
The time interval before the pump can provide the next dose (10 or 15 min common). It is a safety feature.
- E.g. ‘morphine 2 mg every 10 minutes’ means that 10 minutes should pass before the pump can provide another dose of morphine.
- If the pain is not well controlled then the lockout interval may be decreased.
In PCA, what is the Basal rate?
- E.g. with morphine? (how would you write the units for the order?)
- In what types of pain is it useful?
- Why is monitoring essential?
The amount of drug given as a continuous infusion and is set per hour.
- E.g. ‘morphine 2 mg per hour’.
- Basal rate is useful in opioid tolerant patients, patients with severe rest pain and for nighttime analgesia.
- Obviously monitoring is essential to detect respiratory depression.
What does the Time limit mean for PCA?
- What is the time limit for epidural PCA?
- For IV PCA?
The limit means that the pump can provide only the amount set within the time frame. The amount includes both the basal rate and the demand doses. The limit may be set lower for patients with multiple co-morbid conditions and set higher for opioid tolerant patients. This is again a safety feature and needs to be titrated on an individual basis and frequent re-assessments.
- Epidural: 1 hr
- IV: 4 hrs
When should Basal rate PCA not be used?
Basal rate should NOT be initially used in opiate naïve patients.
What does TKO stand for, and why do nurses sometimes ask for it during PCA?
“To keep open”
- So that small volumes of drug don’t get caught up in the tubing.
During PCA, if pt gets snowed during increased dosing, you’ve reached and surpassed the _________________.
Mean effective analgesic concentration (MEAC)
In PCA, if pain inadequately controlled, what should you adjust first?
Adjust demand dose before adjusting basal rate
*In PCA, how long should you leave the Basal rate before adjusting it?
8-24 hours (at least 8 hrs!)
Opioids should be combined with NSAIDs, pain adjuvants and modalities whenever possible. Rapid tapering of the opioids (__% less every day) is essential once the pain condition improves.
25%
Most opiate side effects improve with time except ______________.
Constipation
- Needs aggressive bowel program as soon as possible.
During PCA, what are some side effects of local anesthetics?
- Hypotension
- Motor weakness
- Numbness
- Urinary retention