Monitoring Pharmacological Treatment in Patients With Chronic Noncancer Pain

Chronic pain has been not recognized as a chronic illness, and its far-reaching impacts are often ignored. Chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) is a chronic disease and health care professionals need recommendations on how to monitor treatments, patients and long-term side effects of the different medications used to control CNCP. CNCP patients make up a vulnerable population due to the various associated pathologies and the challenging socio-economic conditions experienced by many of these patients. CNCP is more common among older adults, females, cancer survivors, indigenous peoples, veterans, and populations affected by social inequities and discrimination. These social determinants can lead to a complex interplay between chronic pain, mental illness, and substance use disorders. Given these realities, long-term pharmacological and side effect surveillance is more complex. Follow-up of patients with CNCP is a challenge for physicians, and thus it is important to provide recommendations on how to monitor treatments and long-term side effects of the different medications used to control CNCP.