If you have cancer which spreads or happens repeatedly, your chance of having pain is higher. Pain is one of the most ordinary symptoms in cancer patients. It can also occur after having a cancer treatment, surgery, radiation therapy, targeted therapy. Other kinds of therapies like diagnostic, and bisphosphonates procedures may also be the source of cancer pain.
There are different types of cancer that can occur, it can be mild, moderate or severe. Patients with cancer may show signs of feeling achy, dull, sharp or burning. It also depends on a number of factors, such as what type of cancer you have, how advanced is the pain, where it is situated, and pain tolerance. There are numerous types of drugs that can be use to help and manage it so you feel better. Taking cancer pain relief drugs can improve your quality of life.
Causes of the Cancer Pain
Cancer pain can be caused if the cancer grows into or destroys nearby tissue. If the tumor grows which can press on bones, nerves and body organs. The tumor can also release chemicals that can cause pain. In this situation, treatment of the cancer can help to relieve the pain. Although, cancer treatments procedures such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, also can be the reason for pain. Cancer pain may again happen after treatments end.
Types of Drugs to Get Relief from Cancer Pain
There are various types of drugs or painkillers which can be helpful for different kinds of pain. These drugs can be used to relieve moderate to severe pain in the patients. These drugs are also called opioids, opiates, or narcotics which are a type of painkiller medicine. These drugs or medicines work in the brain and different parts of the body organs via attaching pain receptors to stop the sensation of pain.
Once your doctor and nurse determine your pain, they will prescribe the best painkiller medication to relieve from it. They may also prescribe other types of drugs that can help to control pain, which can include steroids and muscle relaxants. You can start by taking short-acting painkillers to under control your pain. This can provide fast pain relief which lasts until you take the next dose of the painkiller.
1. Drugs for Mild Cancer Pain
If you feel the mild pain, it can be managed with common painkillers such as:
- Paracetamol
- Ibuprofen (NSAIDs- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
You can purchase these medicine over the counter, from the supermarket or a chemist. You may need to take some drugs with meal, or after eating. You can also buy other medicine which may include anti-inflammatory and paracetamol properties. Be careful while taking the medicine, don’t take more than recommended dose of any painkillers.
2. Drugs for Moderate Pain
Doctors commonly treat mild to moderate pain with medicine called opioids. There are many types of drugs which are stronger than others. These painkiller medicine used for mild to moderate pain include:
- Dihydrocodeine
- Codeine phosphate
- Tramadol
Your doctor can also prescribe the combination of drugs such as co-codamol is the combination of paracetamol and codeine, oxycodone tablet might also contain ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin, hydrocodone may be combined with ibuprofen or acetaminophen. You can take these tablets in limit within a day. If you are prescribed combination drugs by your doctors and the pain is not controlled by the suggested drugs, tell your medical practitioner, so they can give you a more effective and strong painkiller.
3. Drugs for Severe Pain
Moderate to severe pain can be relieved by using strong opioids or medication. Usually doctors may prescribe starting dose with a low dose of the medicines. They moderately increase the dosage until your pain is not managed in the proper manner. If you have side effects after taking the stronger painkillers, you can tell your doctor or nurse.
You can take most commonly used moderate to severe painkillers are:
- Morphine: You can take morphine in the form of tablets, liquid, capsules, injection and can be inserted into the rectum passage. It is known by different brand names. Your doctor or nurse will prescribe you about the drugs and how often to ingest it. Taking short acting morphine (Oramorph® and Sevredol®) and long-acting morphine include MST Continus®, MXL®, Morphgesic SR®, and Zomorph can provide you better control of the pain.
- Oxycodone: If you feel that morphine is not providing effectiveness, or you can not purchase it, then your doctor may recommend oxycodone. It can be taken in the form of capsules, short acting tablets, and liquid. You can take it every 4-6 hours and long acting tablets can be taken every 12 hours duration. Brand names of oxycodone include short-acting preparations including OxyNorm®, Lynlor® and Shortec®. Long-acting preparations include Longtec®, Ixyldone®, and OxyContin®.
Common Drugs for Cancer Care
Here are some of the cancer pain relief medicines that are used as a painkiller:
- Fentanyl
- Tramadol
- Hydromorphone
- Methadone
- Hydrocodone
- Tapentadol
- Oxymorphone
Side Effects of Taking Strong Painkillers
Some people may get the side effects after taking strong painkillers. Mostly, side effects can also improve after days or weeks. Few side effects are:
- Constipation
- Low blood pressure
- Sleepiness
- Slower, heavy breathing
- Sickness
- Feeling dizzy or faint
- Dry mouth
- Vivid dreams, nightmares and hallucinations
- Nausea and vomiting
- Trouble urinating
Conclusion
You can take different types of painkillers according to your pain condition. These above-mentioned medications or drugs can help to get relief from moderate to severe pain. These drugs work in the body, brain, and other parts of the body organs that block the feeling of the pain.
Pain can be managed before and after test and treatment. Do not take any cancer pain controlled drugs without checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. Always look on the medicine packet about the recommended dose and never take a higher dose.