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Intracranial Pharmacotherapy and Pain Assays in Rodents
Published on: April 9, 2019
Adjuvant analgesics in acute pain
Frances Lui1, Kwok-Fu Jacobus Ng
1Queen Mary Hospital, Department of Anaesthesiology, Hong Kong. luif@ha.org.hk
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
|January 25, 2011
Summary
Opioids pose risks in acute pain management, prompting exploration of adjuvant analgesics. These drugs offer improved pain relief and reduced opioid side effects with good safety profiles.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Pharmacology
- Pain Management
Background:
- Opioid use for acute pain management is increasingly challenged due to significant side effects.
- Concerns include chronic postsurgical pain, hyperalgesia, and immunomodulation linked to opioid exposure.
- Multimodal approaches and preventive analgesia necessitate a review of perioperative pain strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the efficacy and safety of various adjuvant analgesics for acute pain management.
- To compare recent evidence with previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
- To evaluate adjuvant analgesics as alternatives or adjuncts to opioids.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of Medline-searched literature (1990-April 2010).
- Focus on systemic administration of ketamine, magnesium, gabapentinoids, steroids, α2 agonists, and lidocaine.
- Analysis of evidence for adjuvant analgesics used alone or in combination therapy.
Main Results:
- Adjuvant analgesics demonstrate efficacy in improving analgesic outcomes.
- These agents can effectively reduce opioid-related side effects.
- The reviewed adjuvant analgesics generally show good safety and tolerability profiles.
Conclusions:
- Adjuvant analgesics are beneficial for acute pain management when used appropriately.
- They improve pain relief and mitigate opioid-related adverse effects.
- Further research is needed to optimize administration regimens and personalize treatments.
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