[Psychotropic coadjuvants in pain treatment]

Conventionally, analgesic treatment is accomplished by three principal drug groups, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, and local anesthetics, through different administration routes and modalities. Currently, those analgesics are complemented with coadjuvant and coanalgesic drugs, particularly the psychotropic drugs, specially in somatic or visceral pain, inflammatory, neurophatic or oncologic types. Recently, best understanding of pathophysiological scopes relatives to inflammatory processes and neural damage in pain, makes possible an optimum and rational employment of those drugs. The psychotropic drugs efficacy must be according as pain type, its pathophysiology, the clinical status and the opportunity of pain intervention. The pharmacoeconomy must not be forgotten.