Τόμος 7 (1989) – Τεύχος 1 – Άρθρο 4- Επιθεώρηση Κλινικής Φαρμακολογίας και Φαρμακοκινητικής-Ελληνική Έκδοση – Volume 7 (1989) – Issue 1 – Article 4 – Epitheorese Klinikes Farmakologias και Farmakokinetikes-Greek Edition

N. TSAVARIS AND P. KOSMIDIS

7: 33-41 (1989)

PHARMAKON-Press: Epitheorese Klin. Farmakol. Farmakokinet.

7: 33-41 (1989)

Patients with chronic pain require regular analgesia prescribed on the basis of anticipation and prevention of further pain. The most commonly used analgesic in the control of severe pain is probably morphine and its derivatives. Novel routes of opioid admini­stration such as sublingual and buccal admini­stration, intravenous and subcutaneous infu­sion, patient-controlled analgesia, spinal epi­dural and intrathecal administration, and intra-ventricular injection are now being used more and more in the management of cancer pain. Their use requires sound knowledge of the clinical pharmacology of opioid analgesics, including familiarity with the relevant pharma­cokinetic concepts and unique adverse effects for the specific route of administration. They should be used only if patients can be monitored carefully, particularly when used outside of the hospital. This review discusses indications, efficacy (when known), advantages, complications, and pertinent pharmacokinetics concepts relating to the use of these uncon­ventional routes of opioid administration in the management of cancer pain.

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