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Pharmacologic Management of Cancer-Related Pain in Pregnant Patients

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Abstract

Despite being an essential part of whole-person care, patients with cancer often experience complex and under-treated pain. Managing cancer-related pain in patients who are also pregnant compounds the challenge for adequate pain management, as studies have largely excluded this population. Therapy for pain management should be guided by the cause and mechanism of pain. The objective of this review is to provide clinicians with an understanding of pain experienced by pregnant patients with cancer and medications that may be used to help manage cancer-related pain. Nociceptive pain results from damage to somatic or visceral tissues that may be directly caused by cancer. This type of pain can be managed in pregnant patients using acetaminophen and/or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs as first-line agents. In nociceptive pain not managed by non-opioid analgesics, buprenorphine is recommended for those requiring chronic opioids to help manage their pain. Neuropathic pain that results from damage to the peripheral or central nervous system may also be directly caused by cancer, particularly chemotherapy. In pregnant patients, duloxetine and gabapentin should be considered first. Venlafaxine, pregabalin, tricyclic antidepressants, and sodium channel blockers should be avoided, if possible. Nociplastic pain is not directly caused by cancer but may be caused by ongoing peripheral nociceptive input or a condition that predates the cancer diagnosis. Duloxetine and gabapentin are reasonable agents to consider for treatment of nociceptive pain in pregnant patients. Cyclobenzaprine may also be helpful for nociplastic pain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy Services, University of Michigan Health, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Isabelle Zerfas & Michael A. Smith

  2. University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Reagan McGinn & Michael A. Smith

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  1. Isabelle Zerfas
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IZ, RM, and MS contributed to the conception and design of the paper. IZ led the literature retrieval and review with support from RM and MS. IZ and RM led the writing of the paper with oversight and critical review by MS. MS led the reviewer response and final revisions with support from IZ and RM.

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Zerfas, I., McGinn, R. & Smith, M.A. Pharmacologic Management of Cancer-Related Pain in Pregnant Patients. Drugs 83, 1067–1076 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-023-01906-4

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