Medicines To Treat Cancer Pain
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
Acetaminophen and NSAIDs at a Glance |
Type | Other Names | Action | Side Effects |
Acetaminophen | Tylenol® | Reduces pain
and fever | Large doses can damage the liver.
May cause liver damage if you
drink three or more alcoholic drinks
a day.
Lowers fever. Talk to your doctor
if your body temperature is above
normal (98.6°) and you are taking
this medicine. |
NSAIDs (aspirin,
ibuprofen,
naproxen) | Bayer®
(aspirin)
Ecotrin®
(aspirin)
Advil®
(ibuprofen)
Motrin®
(ibuprofen)
Nuprin®
(ibuprofen)
Aleve®
(naproxen) | Reduces
pain,
inflammation
(swelling),
and fever | Can upset the stomach.
Can cause bleeding of the stomach
lining, especially if you drink
alcohol (wine, beer, etc.).
Can cause kidney problems,
especially in the elderly or those
with existing kidney problems.
Can cause heart problems,
especially in those who already
have heart disease. However,
aspirin does not cause heart
problems.
Avoid these medicines if you are on
anticancer drugs that may cause
bleeding.
Lowers fever. Talk to your doctor
if your body temperature is above
normal (98.6°) and you are taking
this medicine. |
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
How to stop taking opioids |
You may be able to take less medicine when the pain gets better. You may even be
able to stop taking opioids. But it's important to stop taking opioids slowly, with your
doctor's advice. When pain medicines are taken for long periods of time, your body
gets used to them. If the medicines are stopped or suddenly reduced, a condition
called withdrawal may occur. This is why the doses should be lowered slowly.
This has no relation to being addicted (see
Medicine Tolerance and Addiction).
Stopping your pain medicines slowly makes withdrawal symptoms mild. But if you
stop taking opioids suddenly, you may start feeling like you have the flu. You may
sweat and have diarrhea or other symptoms. If this happens, tell your doctor or
nurse. He or she can treat these symptoms. Any symptoms from withdrawal may
take a few days to a few weeks to go away.
|
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.
Be sure to ask your health care team about the common side effects
of these medicines. |
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.
-
|
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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?
How often?
- If my pain doesn't go away, can I take more medicine?
How much should I increase the dose?
- Should I call you before taking more medicine?
- How long does the medicine last?
- What if I forget to take my medicine or take it later than I was supposed to?
- Should I take my medicine with food?
- How much liquid should I drink with the medicine?
- How long does it take for the medicine to start working?
- Is it safe to drink alcohol (wine, beer, etc.), drive, or run machinery after I've
taken the medicine?
- What other medicines can I take with the pain medicine?
- What are the side effects? How can I prevent them?
- What should I call you about right away?
Other ways to relieve pain |
Medicine doesn't always relieve pain in some people. In these cases, doctors use
other treatments to reduce pain:
- Radiation therapy. Different forms of radiation energy are used to
shrink the tumor and reduce pain. Often one treatment is enough to help
with the pain. But sometimes several treatments are needed.
- Neurosurgery. A surgeon cuts the nerves that carry pain messages to
your brain.
- Nerve blocks. Anesthesiologists inject pain medicine into or around the
nerve or into the spine to relieve pain.
- Surgery. A surgeon removes all or part of a tumor to relieve pain.
This is especially helpful when a tumor presses on nerves or other parts
of the body.
- Chemotherapy. Anticancer drugs are used to reduce the size of a tumor,
which may help with the pain.
- Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (TENS). TENS uses a
gentle electric current to relieve pain. The current comes from a small
power pack that you can hold or attach to yourself.
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