Chin Med J (Taipei) 1998;61:S27.

Adjuvant Agents in Pain Management

Chung-Hang Wong, M.D.

Pain Clinic, Department of Anesthesiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital,
Taiwan, R.O.C.

Abstract

Adjuvant agents are usually considered when the patient with pain fails to attain an adequate pain control with traditional analgesics (opioids and/or non-opioids); a satisfactory balance between analgesia and side effect during pain therapy; or experiences a comorbid symptom or disorder that may be amenable to one of the adjuvant drugs.

Adjuvant analgesics, was termed to described those agents that have primary indications other than pain but are analgesic in specific circumstances, include numerous drugs in many classes are widely used in the management of intractable pain syndromes. it is mandatory that a clinician must be familiar with the drug's approved indications, unapproved indications accepted in medical practice, likely side effects and potential serious adverse effects, usual time-action relationship, pharmacokinetics, and specific dosing guideline for pain to optimally administer an adjuvant analgesic. The indications and guidelines for the currently used adjuvant analgesics, such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, neuroleptics, membrane stabilizers, sympatholytic agents, N-methy1-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, muscle relaxants as well as topical agents will be discussed.

[Chin Med J (Taipei) 1998;61:S27.]