1. Nonopioids - for mild to moderate pain

2. Opioids - for moderate to severe pain

3. Other types of pain medicine

Starting a new pain medicine

How medicine is given

Questions to ask your health care team about your pain medicine

There is more than one way to treat pain.

Your doctor prescribes medicine based on the kind of pain you have and how severe it is. In studies, these medicines have been shown to help control cancer pain. Doctors use three main groups of drugs for pain: nonopioids, opioids, and other types. You may also hear the term analgesics used for these pain relievers. Some are stronger than others. It helps to know the different kinds of medicines, why and how they're used, how you take them, and what side effects you might expect.

1. Nonopioids - for mild to moderate pain

Nonopioids are drugs used to treat mild to moderate pain, fever, and swelling. On a scale of 0 to 10, a nonopioid may be used if you rate your pain from 1 to 4. These medicines are stronger than most people realize. In many cases, they are all you'll need to relieve your pain. You just need to be sure to take them regularly.

You can buy most nonopioids without a prescription. But you still need to talk with your doctor before taking them. Some of them may have things added to them that you need to know about. And they do have side effects. Common ones, such as nausea, itching, or drowsiness, usually go away after a few days. Do not take more than the label says unless your doctor tells you to do so.

Nonopioids include:

• Acetaminophen, which you may know as Tylenol®
  Acetaminophen reduces pain. It is not helpful with inflammation. Most of the time, people don't have side effects from a normal dose of acetaminophen. But taking large doses of this medicine every day for a long time can damage your liver. Drinking alcohol with the typical dose can also damage the liver.
  
  Make sure you tell the doctor that you're taking acetaminophen. Sometimes it is used in other pain medicines, so you may not realize that you're taking more than you should. Also, your doctor may not want you to take acetaminophen too often if you're getting chemotherapy. The medicine can cover up a fever, hiding the fact that you might have an infection.
  
  
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (which you may know as Advil® or Motrin®) and aspirin
  NSAIDs help control pain and inflammation. With NSAIDs, the most common side effect is stomach upset or indigestion, especially in older people. Eating food or drinking milk when you take these drugs may stop this from happening.

NSAIDs may also keep blood from clotting the way it should. This means that it's harder to stop bleeding after you've hurt yourself. NSAIDs can also sometimes cause bleeding in the stomach.

Tell your doctor if:

• Your stools become darker than normal
• You notice bleeding from your rectum
• You have an upset stomach
• You have heartburn symptoms
• You cough up blood

What to avoid when taking NSAIDs
Some people have conditions that NSAIDs can make worse. In general, you should avoid these drugs if you:

• Are allergic to aspirin
• Are getting chemotherapy
• Are on steroid medicines
• Have stomach ulcers or a history of ulcers, gout, or bleeding disorders
• Are taking prescription medicines for arthritis
• Have kidney problems
• Have heart problems
• Are planning surgery within a week
• Are taking blood-thinning medicine (such as Coumadin®)

2. Opioids - for moderate to severe pain

If you're having moderate to severe pain, your doctor may recommend that you take stronger drugs called opioids. Opioids are also known as narcotics. You must have a doctor's prescription to take them. They are often taken with aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen.

Common opioids include:

• Codeine
• Fentanyl
• Hydromorphone
• Levorphanol
• Meperidine
• Methadone
• Morphine
• Oxycodone
• Oxymorphone

Getting relief with opioids
Over time, people who take opioids for pain sometimes find that they need to take larger doses to get relief. This is caused by more pain, the cancer getting worse, or medicine tolerance (see Medicine Tolerance and Addiction). When a medicine doesn't give you enough pain relief, your doctor may increase the dose and how often you take it. He or she can also prescribe a stronger drug. Both methods are safe and effective under your doctor's care. Do not increase the dose of medicine on your own.

Managing and preventing side effects
Some pain medicines may cause:

• Constipation (trouble passing stools)
• Drowsiness (feeling sleepy)
• Nausea (upset stomach)
• Vomiting (throwing up)

Usually these side effects last only a few days. But if they last longer, your doctors can change the medicine or dose you're taking. Or they may also add another medicine to your pain control plan to control the side effects. Keep in mind that constipation will only go away if it's treated. Your health care team can talk with you about other ways to relieve side effects. Don't let side effects stop you from getting your pain under control.

Other less common side effects include:

• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Breathing problems
• Itching
• Trouble urinating

Constipation
Almost everyone taking opioids has some constipation. This happens because opioids cause the stool to move more slowly through your system, so your body takes more time to absorb water from the stool. The stool then becomes hard.

You can control or prevent constipation by taking these steps:

• Ask your doctor about giving you laxatives and stool softeners when you first start taking opioids. Taking these right when you start taking pain medicine may prevent the problem.
  
  
• Drink plenty of liquids. Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of liquid each day will help keep stools soft.
  
  
• Eat foods high in fiber, including raw fruits with the skin left on, vegetables, and whole grain breads and cereals.
  
  
• Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of bran to your food or sprinkle it on your food. Remember to drink a glass of water when you eat bran, or it will make the problem worse.
  
  
• Exercise as much as you are able. Any movement, such as light walking, will help.
  
  
• Call your doctor if you have not had a bowel movement in 2 days or more.

Drowsiness
If your pain has kept you from sleeping, you may sleep more at first when you begin taking opioids. The drowsiness usually goes away after a few days.

If you are tired or drowsy:

• Don't walk up and down stairs alone.
  
  
• Don't do anything where you need to be alert - driving, using machines or equipment, or anything else that requires focus.

Call your doctor if the drowsiness is severe or doesn't go away after a week.

• You may have to take a smaller dose more often or change medicines.
  
  
• It may be that the medicine isn't relieving your pain, and the pain is keeping you awake at night.
  
  
• Your other medicines may be causing the drowsiness.
  
  
• Your doctor may decide to add a new drug that will help you stay awake.

Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting usually go away after a few days of taking opioids.

These tips may help:

• Stay in bed for an hour or so after taking your medicine if you feel sick when walking around. This kind of nausea is like feeling seasick. Some over-the-counter drugs may help, too. But be sure to check with your doctor before taking any other medicines.
  
  
• You may want to ask your doctor to prescribe antinausea drugs.
  
  
• Ask your doctor if something else could be making you feel sick. It might be related to your cancer or another medicine you're taking. Constipation can also add to nausea.

Starting a new pain medicine

Some pain medicines can make you feel sleepy when you first take them. This usually goes away within a few days. Also, some people get dizzy or feel confused. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms persist. Changing your dose or the type of medicine can usually solve the problem.

What to watch out for when taking pain medicine

All drugs must be taken carefully. Here are a few things to remember when you are taking opioids:

• Take your medicines as directed. Also, don't split, chew, or crush them, unless suggested by your doctor.
  
  
• Doctors will adjust the pain medicine dose so that you get the right amount for your body. That's why it's important that only one doctor prescribes your opioids. Make sure that you bring your list of medicines to each visit. That way, your health care team is aware of your pain control plan.
  
  
• Combining pain medicine with alcohol or tranquilizers can be dangerous. You could have trouble breathing or feel confused, anxious, or dizzy.
  
  Tell your doctor how much and how often you:
  • Drink alcohol
  • Take tranquilizers, sleeping pills, or antidepressants
  • Take any other medicines that make you sleepy

3. Other types of pain medicine

Doctors also prescribe other types of medicine to relieve cancer pain. They can be used along with nonopioids and opioids. Some include:

• Antidepressants. Some drugs can be used for more than one purpose. For example, antidepressants are used to treat depression, but they may also help relieve tingling and burning pain. Nerve damage from radiation, surgery, or chemotherapy can cause this type of pain.
  
  
• Antiseizure medicines (anticonvulsants). Like antidepressants, anticonvulsants or antiseizure drugs can also be used to help control tingling or burning from nerve injury.
  
  
• Steroids. Steroids are mainly used to treat pain caused by swelling.

How medicine is given

To relieve cancer pain, doctors often prescribe pills or liquids. But there are also other ways to take medicines, such as:

• Mouth: Some pain medicine can be put inside the cheek or under the tongue.
  
  

• Patient-controlled analgesia pump (PCA)

  Injections (shots): There are two different kinds of shots:
  • Under the skin: Medicine is placed just under the skin using a small needle. These are called subcutaneous injections.
  • In the vein: Medicine goes directly into the vein through a needle. These are called intravenous (IV) injections. Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps are often used with these kinds of injections. PCA pumps let you push a button to give yourself a dose of pain medicine.
  
  
• Skin patches: These bandage-like patches go on the skin. They slowly but steadily, release medicine for 2 to 3 days.
  
  
• Rectal suppositories: These are capsules or pills that you put inside your rectum. The medicine dissolves and is absorbed by the body.
  
  
• Around the spinal cord: Medicine is placed between the wall of the spinal canal and the covering of the spinal cord (called an epidural).

Questions to ask your health care team about your pain medicine:

• How much medicine should I take?
  
  

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  How often?
  
  

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• If my pain doesn't go away, can I take more medicine?
  
  

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  How much should I increase the dose?
  
  

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• Should I call you before taking more medicine?
  
  

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• How long does the medicine last?
  
  

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• What if I forget to take my medicine or take it later than I was supposed to?
  
  

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• Should I take my medicine with food?
  
  

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• How much liquid should I drink with the medicine?
  
  

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• How long does it take for the medicine to start working?
  
  

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• Is it safe to drink alcohol (wine, beer, etc.), drive, or run machinery after I've taken the medicine?
  
  

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• What other medicines can I take with the pain medicine?
  
  

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• What are the side effects? How can I prevent them?
  
  

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• What should I call you about right away?
  
  

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