Indian society for study of pain, cancer pain special interest group guidelines on pharmacological management of cancer pain (Part III)

Raghavendra Ramanjulu, Raghu S Thota, Arif Ahmed, Parmanand Jain, Sushma Bhatnagar, Naveen Salins, Aparna Chatterjee, Dipasri BhattacharyaIndian Journal of Palliative Care 2020 26(2):191-197 The Indian Society for Study of Pain (ISSP), Cancer Pain Special Interest Group, guidelines on pharmacological management of cancer pain in adults provide a structured, step-wise approach which will help to improve the management of cancer pain and to provide patients with a minimally acceptable quality of life. The guidelines have been developed based on the available literature and evidence, to suit the needs, patient population, and situations in India. A questionnaire based on the key elements of each sub draft addressing certain inconclusive areas where evidence was lacking, was made available on the ISSP website and circulated by E-mail to all the ISSP and Indian Association of Palliative Care members. Antidepressants and/or anticonvulsants should be used to treat neuropathic cancer pain and the dose should be titrated according to the clinical response and side effects. External beam radiotherapy should be offered to all patients with painful metastatic bone pain. There is evidence on the use of ketamine in cancer neuropathic pain, but with no beneficial effect, thus it is not recommended.
Source: Indian Journal of Palliative Care - Category: Palliative Care Authors: Source Type: research