Pain treatment in cancer patients

Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of pharmacology and toxikology Candidate: Marie Blažková Supervisor: PharmDr. Jana Pourová Ph.D. Title of diploma thesis: Pain treatment in cancer patients. Cancer pain therapy is not directed against the primary disease, but strongly increases the quality of patient's life. The main aim of this thesis was to summarize pharmacological groups and substances used for this purpose. The basic groups being used for the therapy of cancer pain are opioid and non opioid analgetics. These analgesics are usually administered repetitively, sometimes in combination. The dose interval depends on pharmacologic properties of each drug, the drug form and on the patient's state. Generally, a non invasive way of administration is prefered for long term therapy, e.g. transdermal or oral drug forms are convenient. The drug forms with long lasting effect can be combined with drug forms with immediate release of the active substance (e.g. transdermal plaster and syrup or intranasal spray) for a sufficient control of the treatment of variable intensity of pain ("breaktrough" pain). The adjuvant analgesics (e.g. neuroleptics, anticonvulsants) are used in the treatment of some specific types of pains (neuropathic pain, bone pain, etc.). In some..