Paliatívna medicína a liečba bolesti 1e/2016

Advances in pharmacotherapy of pain

In recent years, new active substances, dosage forms of previously known agents as well as new combinations of drugs have emerged in the field of pharmacotherapy of pain. Among active substances, a new molecule in the class of opioids has been encountered after more than 30 years. The new substance is tapentadol, a µ-opioid agonist capable of norepinephrine reuptake inhibition in the CNS. In the field of nonopioid analgesics, aceclofenac – a preferential COX-2 inhibitor – has been newly introduced to the Czech market. In terms of treating cancer-related breakthrough pain, transmucosal fentanyls with an ultra-rapid onset of action have recently become available. To combat opioid-induced constipation, an agent combining oxycodone with naloxone can be used, and localized neuropathic pain can now be managed with 8% capsaicin patch.

Keywords: tapentadol, aceclofenac, 8% capsaicin, pain management, transmucosal fentany