ABSTRACT
As is the case with almost any medical problem, the best pharmacotherapeutic approach to acute and chronic pain management is no drug therapy at all. However, the option of not using drugs in managing many pain syndromes is not realistic. When the clinician has determined that the pain condition is significant and beyond the scope of being treated solely with physical medicine (e.g., ice packs, massage, physical therapy), drug therapy is indicated. To determine the best pharmacotherapeutic response to pain, the nature and severity of the pain must be assessed and considered. Whether the pain is acute or chronic must be taken into account, as well as whether the pain is malignant, benign, organic, psychogenic, vascular, or depression related. Neuropathic pain is addressed in a completely different manner than nociceptive pain. Additionally, the pain should be graded as mild, moderate, severe, or excruciating before an appropriate drug regimen and drug delivery system are formulated.
