Articles: opioid-analgesics.
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Administration of opioids by less conventional routes may produce pain relief of more rapid onset, of longer duration, and fewer side effects in comparison with conventional oral or parenteral administration. This review will discuss the indications, efficacy, complications and potential advantages of these novel routes of administration.
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Med. Clin. North Am. · Mar 1987
ReviewRole of epidural and intrathecal narcotics and peptides in the management of cancer pain.
The spinal administration of opioids may provide analgesia of long duration to patients with bilateral or midline lower abdominal or pelvic cancer pain. However, cross-tolerance to orally and parenterally administered narcotics and the rapid development of tolerance to spinal narcotics have limited their usefulness. ⋯ Further clinical and pharmacokinetic studies are required to provide the information regarding: the optimal opioids for use as spinal analgesics; equieffective dose ratios of spinal opioids in comparison to parenteral or oral opioids; strategies useful to forestall the development of tolerance of spinally administered opioids; the analgesic efficacy of this therapy in opioid-tolerant patients; and the role of spinally administered nonopioid analgesics in the management of cancer pain in the tolerant patient. These questions will need resolution before this therapy can be recommended for routine use in the management of cancer pain.