Pain management of the cancer patient

In summary, there are several ways to manage chronic pain with pharmacologic agents. The clinician should consider adjunctive agents such as antidepressants, stimulants, and antianxiety drugs as well as the standard narcotic analgesics. It is important to consider various modalities in treating the patient. A greater likelihood of successful pain control will be realized if the clinician determines a patient's pain pattern and the factors that appear to impact upon the pain cycle. With these aspects in mind, the rational application of these various analgesics will bring about the eventual goal, preventing of severe, agonizing pain.