Analgesic adjuvant

An analgesic adjuvant is a medication that is typically used for indications other than pain control but provides control of pain in some painful diseases. For instance, caffeine has minimal analgesic effect on its own, but may have an adjuvant effect when given with paracetamol (acetaminophen).^[1]^[2] Examples include:

Anticonvulsants
- carbamazepine, gabapentin, pregabalin
Antidepressants
- amitriptyline,^[3] duloxetine, venlafaxine
Antihistamines
- hydroxyzine, promethazine
Stimulants
- caffeine, cocaine, dextroamphetamine, ephedrine

carisoprodol
cyclobenzaprine
hyoscine (scopolamine)

The exact mechanism of the anticonvulsants carbamazepine, gabapentin, and pregabalin is unclear, but they are used to treat neuropathic pain with differing degrees of success.^[4]

Antiemetics and medication to relieve constipation are two examples of non-adjuvant medication indications because these are used to treat side effects and adverse effects.^[5]

References[]

^ Zhang, W. Y. (2001). "A benefit-risk assessment of caffeine as an analgesic adjuvant". Drug Safety. 24 (15): 1127–42. doi:10.2165/00002018-200124150-00004. PMID 11772146. S2CID 46300479.
^ Derry, C. J.; Derry, S.; Moore, R. A. (2012). "Caffeine as an analgesic adjuvant for acute pain in adults". Prescriber. 23 (7): 41. doi:10.1002/psb.895. PMC 6485702. PMID 25502052.
^ Bryson, HM; Wilde, MI (1 June 1996). "Amitriptyline. A review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic use in chronic pain states". Drugs & Aging. 8 (6): 459–476. doi:10.2165/00002512-199608060-00008. PMID 8736630.
^ Eardley, I; Whelan, P; Kirby, R; Schaeffer, A. "Drugs Used In The Treatment Of Interstitial Cystitis". Drug Treatment in Urology. John Wiley & Sons, 2008. p. 65.
^ "WHO Guidelines on the Pharmacological Treatment of Persisting Pain in Children with Medical Illnesses" (PDF). World Health Organization. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 19, 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2017.

External links[]

WHO Guidelines on the Pharmacological Treatment of Persisting Pain in Children with Medical Illnesses, (2012), World Health Organization

[1] Zhang, W. Y. (2001). "A benefit-risk assessment of caffeine as an analgesic adjuvant". Drug Safety. 24 (15): 1127–42. doi:10.2165/00002018-200124150-00004. PMID 11772146. S2CID 46300479.

[2] Derry, C. J.; Derry, S.; Moore, R. A. (2012). "Caffeine as an analgesic adjuvant for acute pain in adults". Prescriber. 23 (7): 41. doi:10.1002/psb.895. PMC 6485702. PMID 25502052.

[3] Bryson, HM; Wilde, MI (1 June 1996). "Amitriptyline. A review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic use in chronic pain states". Drugs & Aging. 8 (6): 459–476. doi:10.2165/00002512-199608060-00008. PMID 8736630.

[4] Eardley, I; Whelan, P; Kirby, R; Schaeffer, A. "Drugs Used In The Treatment Of Interstitial Cystitis". Drug Treatment in Urology. John Wiley & Sons, 2008. p. 65.

[who-5] "WHO Guidelines on the Pharmacological Treatment of Persisting Pain in Children with Medical Illnesses" (PDF). World Health Organization. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 19, 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2017.

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