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Pharmacotherapy of Chronic Pain

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Neurosurgical Management of Pain

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Abstract

The pharmacotherapy of chronic pain is complex because it requires knowledge of psychopharmacology, vasoactive drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, narcotics, antidepressants, tranquilizing agents, and hypnotics. There is no single set formula that is applicable to all chronic pain states, because the origins of chronic pain are multiple, and as varied as the individuals who have the problem. Therefore, in order to use a variety of medications, one must understand the mechanism of action of each drug so that it can be applied for a specific situation. Additionally, drug interaction, synergy, antagonism, and side effects are important considerations in pharmacotherapy.

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Authors
  1. Nelson Hendler
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Richard B. North MD

  2. Division of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Robert M. Levy MD, PhD

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© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Hendler, N. (1997). Pharmacotherapy of Chronic Pain. In: North, R.B., Levy, R.M. (eds) Neurosurgical Management of Pain. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1938-5_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1938-5_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-7348-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-1938-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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