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Park HJ, Moon DE. Pharmacologic management of chronic pain. Korean J Pain. 2010;23(2):99-108doi: 10.3344/kjp.2010.23.2.99.
Park, H. J., & Moon, D. E. (2010). Pharmacologic management of chronic pain. The Korean journal of pain, 23(2), 99-108. https://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2010.23.2.99
Park, Hue Jung, and Moon, Dong Eon. "Pharmacologic management of chronic pain." The Korean journal of pain vol. 23,2 (2010): 99-108. doi: https://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2010.23.2.99
Park HJ, Moon DE. Pharmacologic management of chronic pain. Korean J Pain. 2010 Jun;23(2):99-108. doi: 10.3344/kjp.2010.23.2.99. Epub 2010 May 31. PMID: 20556211; PMCID: PMC2886242.
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Korean J Pain. 2010 Jun;23(2):99-108. doi: 10.3344/kjp.2010.23.2.99. Epub 2010 May 31.

Pharmacologic management of chronic pain.

The Korean journal of pain

Hue Jung Park, Dong Eon Moon

Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

PMID: 20556211 PMCID: PMC2886242 DOI: 10.3344/kjp.2010.23.2.99

Abstract

Chronic pain is a multifactorial condition with both physical and psychological symptoms, and it affects around 20% of the population in the developed world. In spite of outstanding advances in pain management over the past decades, chronic pain remains a significant problem. This article provides a mechanism- and evidence-based approach to improve the outcome for pharmacologic management of chronic pain. The usual approach to treat mild to moderate pain is to start with a nonopioid analgesic. If this is inadequate, and if there is an element of sleep deprivation, then it is reasonable to add an antidepressant with analgesic qualities. If there is a component of neuropathic pain or fibromyalgia, then a trial with one of the gabapentinoids is appropriate. If these steps are inadequate, then an opioid analgesic may be added. For moderate to severe pain, one would initiate an earlier trial of a long term opioid. Skeletal muscle relaxants and topicals may also be appropriate as single agents or in combination. Meanwhile, the steps of pharmacologic treatments for neuropathic pain include (1) certain antidepressants (tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), calcium channel alpha(2)-delta ligands (gabapentin and pregabalin) and topical lidocaine, (2) opioid analgesics and tramadol (for first-line use in selected clinical circumstances) and (3) certain other antidepressant and antiepileptic medications (topical capsaicin, mexiletine, and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonists). It is essential to have a thorough understanding about the different pain mechanisms of chronic pain and evidence-based multi-mechanistic treatment. It is also essential to increase the individualization of treatment.

Keywords: chronic pain; pharmacologic management

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