[Myths and superstitions in the treatment of pain]

Based on recent pharmacological and pathophysiological findings, the authors confront still persisting unsubstantiated views with modern ones regarding the duration of action of analgetics, equianalgesic doses, abstention symptoms, development of dependence, tolerance and the use of co-analgetics. An important place in the potentiation of the effect of analgetics is held by the application of suitable procedures and methods in the sphere of nursing care.