PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Tuttle, C. B.
TI  - Drug management of pain in cancer patients
DP  - 1985 Jan 15
TA  - Canadian Medical Association Journal
PG  - 121--134
VI  - 132
IP  - 2
4099  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/132/2/121.short
4100  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/132/2/121.full
SO  - CMAJ1985 Jan 15; 132
AB  - Chronic severe cancer pain is often not well controlled because both patient and physician have a poor understanding of the nature of the pain and of the actions of various potent analgesics. Physicians often fail to tailor analgesic dosages to the needs of the individual and unnecessarily limit the dosage because they have an ill founded fear that the patient will become addicted. The basis of rational management of cancer pain with drugs is an appropriate analgesic given regularly in doses adequate to suppress pain continuously. This review compares the potent analgesics and identifies and discusses those that have a role in treating chronic cancer pain. It emphasizes the value of morphine sulfate and gives information on starting and individualizing dosages and managing side effects.