Appropriate painkillers for cancer help maintain a psycho-emotional and physiological state that can destroy the pain syndrome. After all, this disease kills millions of people every year, and most of them have severe pain in the late stages of the disease.
Strong painkillers for cancer: a list of drugs
Cancer patients in most cases suffer from pain due to the growth of cancerous tumors, less often from antitumor treatment. Sometimes pain is in no way associated with the disease and its healing.
It is often difficult to assess the degree of pain and the question arises as to which painkillers in cancer can help to achieve a positive effect. The most effective was the administration of such medications as:
- "Aspirin".
- Sedalgin.
- Pentalgin.
- Diclofenac.
- Inteban.
- "Metindol."
- "Metamizole."
- "Phenylbutazone."
At later stages, pain can be relieved only by more effective means. Often only strong painkillers for cancer in the last stage can alleviate the condition of the patient. The most effective method here is:
- "Oxycodone."
- "Tramadol."
- "Dionine."
- "Tramal".
- "Durogezika".
- MST-Continus.
- Morphine.
- "Morphine" and its derivatives.
Features of the use of painkillers
At various stages of the pain syndrome, various groups of agents are used. Medications can be non-narcotic and narcotic. Analgesics belong to the first group (some of them are released only by prescription). The second group includes opiates, which also have varying degrees of exposure. However, in order for the treatment to give a result, painkillers for cancer must be taken according to the approved scheme:
- Non-narcotic drugs in combination with adjuvant, supportive drugs.
- Weak opiates in tandem with non-narcotic and supportive drugs.
- Strong opiates (morphine and its analogues) in combination with non-narcotic and adjuvant drugs.
The use of such a scheme contributes to the correct selection of dosages, thereby achieving a positive effect that alleviates the suffering of the patient.
Often, painkillers for cancer are administered intravenously or intramuscularly, since with this method the effect is achieved faster than with the use of tablets.
The pains that accompany the patient with oncological pathologies are usually divided into weak, medium and strong. Therefore, painkillers for cancer They are divided into two groups: non-narcotic and narcotic drugs. Moreover, the latter can be weak and strong. Absolutely all painkillers for cancer are combined with adjuvants, which include stabilizing components that support the body of the cancer patient and can enhance the effect of essential drugs.
Non-narcotic pain medication group
Anesthetics for cancer in the initial stage relieve patients from pain without significant side effects. Non-narcotic drugs can suppress the factors that affect the appearance of pain. However, they have boundaries of anesthesia and increasing the dose will not lead to a positive result, and will also increase the effect of side effects on the body. Therefore, pain medications for cancer can only be prescribed by a doctor. All medicines in this group are divided into lungs and strengths.
Light non-narcotic drugs are applicable at the initial stage of the development of the disease, when the patient does not yet have a pronounced pain syndrome. Usually, painkillers for cancer are first prescribed to reduce the degree of pain. Recommend a reception:
- "Paracetamol."
- "Aspirin."
- "Sedalgin."
- Pentalgin.
- "Phenazone."
- Panadola
- “Nurofen”, “Miga” and others.
To date, painkillers for cancer have been developed that can alleviate the suffering of patients. But they can cause side effects, so you should adhere to certain dosages.
Side effects
"Analgin" is prescribed in an amount up to a thousand milligrams every three to four hours. The dosage of other analgesic drugs and Paracetamol may be half as low, and the interval between doses increases to five to six hours.
Side effects from taking “Aspirin” are expressed in allergic reactions, gastrointestinal anomalies, impaired hemostasis, which is responsible for the level of blood coagulation.
In case of an overdose of Paracetamol and its analogs, toxic liver damage may be observed.
What painkillers help with cancer: medium intensity
The doctor prescribes strong non-narcotic drugs when the patient's condition worsens and the pain becomes stronger. At this stage, the reception begins:
- "Meloxicam."
- Tenoxicama.
- "Piroxicam."
- "Indomethacin."
- Diclofenac.
- "Metindola."
- Intebana
- "Metamizole."
- "Phenylbutazone."
- "Begging"
- "Brufen."
- Voltaren.
These drugs are most effective in combination with analgesics, especially when pain is caused by the spread of metastases to the bones. However, the effects of non-narcotic drugs are limited, and they are not able to relieve severe pain. Therefore, when discomfort intensifies, stronger painkillers for cancer enter the battle.
Narcotic group of painkillers
Narcotic drugs are classified as heavy artillery in the fight against pain. They are prescribed only as a last resort, since they not only relieve pain, but also cause irreparable harm to the patient's body at the physiological and psychological level. When prescribing drugs, it is necessary to observe a strict sequence, starting with the lightest. And when they are no longer able to help, they switch to stronger painkillers. In cancer, opiate administration should be monitored by the attending physician, who monitors changes in the patient’s condition, and, in case of intolerance or overdose, provide the necessary assistance.
Opiates are a special group of drugs that can be used at various stages of cancer. With the help of opiates, strong and moderate pain is stopped. Often, the use of such drugs is prohibited at home without the supervision of a responsible health professional.
When the turn of opiates comes, treatment takes place according to the principle: from light to strong. The first group of narcotic drugs means the appointment of:
- "Oxycodone."
- "Tramadol."
- "Dionine."
- "Tramal".
- "Codeine."
- "Dihydrocodeine."
- "Hydrocodone."
The pharmacological form of such drugs can be tablet, capsule, injectable. There are drops and candles. The fastest effect is achieved by injection. The average dosage of opiates is from 50 to 100 mg with an interval of 4-6 hours.
With a particularly pronounced pain syndrome, when light opiates are no longer able to cope, strong narcotic drugs come to the rescue. Common application:
- Fentanyl
- "Buprenorphine"
- "Prosidola"
- Norfina
- "Durogezika"
- MST-Continus
- Morphine
- "Morphine" and its derivatives.
The use of such drugs inevitably leads to dependence, and the patient has to constantly increase the dosage to maintain the effect.
All narcotic drugs are dispensed exclusively by prescription, their use is strictly controlled and taken into account. For reporting, patient representatives fill out appropriate papers and provide used vials. To facilitate control, such drugs are given in a limited amount, calculated for a certain period of time.
If non-narcotic pain medications are prescribed for any oncological pathology, then strong narcotic drugs are used based on the type of cancer, so as not to aggravate the situation and not harm the patient.
Adjuvant drugs
The group of adjuvant (auxiliary) drugs, which are of great importance when using painkillers, includes many medications of various kinds. For complex treatment, the appointment is effective:
- corticosteroid drugs ;
- antidepressant or sedative;
- anticonvulsants;
- antihistamines;
- anti-inflammatory;
- antipyretic.
They are designed to enhance efficiency and at the same time reduce the risk of side effects from the use of strong painkillers for oncology.
Lung cancer: how to relieve pain?
Lung cancer is one of the most frequent manifestations of oncology, which is often diagnosed already in the late stages, when only strong painkillers help get rid of the pain syndrome. The use of such means as:
- Fentanyl.
- "Morphine".
- Omnopon.
- "Buprenorphine."
Strong painkillers for lung cancer taken under strict medical supervision.
Gastric cancer: how to alleviate suffering?
Strong painkillers for stomach cancer are also prescribed and monitored by the attending physician. Quite often recommend a reception:
- Morphine.
- Fentanyl or Alfantanil
- "Oxycodone" for pain in bone tissue.
- "Methadone" for pain in nerve tissue.
Strong painkillers are selected based on the individual situation and the localization of the pain syndrome.
Breast Cancer Anesthesia
Breast cancer has become quite widespread. Cancer Pain Reliever The doctor also prescribes the breast based on the general condition of the patient. The best effect with the least pronounced side effects was observed when taking:
- "Methadone."
- "Fentanyl."
- "Oxycodone."
- Meperidine.
- "Codeine."
It was also noted that the correct dosages of these drugs with such a tumor in some women did not cause dependence and the need for an increase in dose.
The basic rules of pain relief
To achieve the maximum effect of taking painkillers, you should adhere to some rules:
- Pain medication for cancer should be taken according to a strict schedule and dosage. This allows you to achieve maximum effect with a minimum daily amount.
- Taking medications should begin with the lungs and gradually switch to strong ones.
- Mandatory use of auxiliary agents that can enhance the effect and weaken the manifestation of side effects.
- Conducting prevention of side effects of drugs.
Oncology analgesic patch
Sometimes cancer patients should use high-speed analgesics. In chronic pain syndrome , "Fentanyl" is the most effective. And if for some reason it is impossible for the patient to get an injection, then a patch with this medicine comes to the rescue.
Anesthetic components are released from the patch for three days. The highest efficiency is achieved 12 hours after application. The dosage of the drug is calculated individually, and an important factor in this is age.
Anesthetic patch helps in those cases when it is difficult for the patient to swallow or eat because of damage to the veins. For some patients, this type of pain relief is simply convenient.
Malignant neoplasms and metastases cause irreversible changes and degradation of healthy tissues. In this case, nerve endings are damaged and inflammatory processes occur, which are accompanied by severe pain. In order to somehow help the patient maintain his psychological and physical condition, anesthetics are prescribed during treatment. What painkillers are possible for cancer, the doctor determines individually, depending on the stage of the disease and susceptibility to active substances.