Prakt. lékáren. 2015; 11(3): 93-95

Co-analgesics - the optimal choice and indication

PharmDr.Jitka Rychlíčková^0,2

¹ Oddělení klinické farmacie, Nemocnice Na Bulovce, Praha

² Ústav aplikované farmacie, Farmaceutická fakulta VFU, Brno

Co-analgesics are a diverse group of drugs that includes anticonvulsants and antidepressants, and others (local anaesthetics, bisphosphonates,

calcitonin, muscle relaxants, corticosteroids, spasmolytics, benzodiazepines). They can be used at any step of the WHO ladder

alone or in combination with other analgesics.

Correct choice of co-analgesics is summarized in the following text. Determination of the pain etiology is the first step. Carbamazepin

appears to be effective in paroxysmal neuropathic pain, pregabalin and gabapentin are drugs of choice in painful polyneuropathy,

including diabetic neutopathic pain, tricyclic antidepressants can be used as well, but only as off label. In the second step, adverse drug

reaction, pharmacokinetics, potential drug interaction and patient´s age and comorbidities have to be considered.

Keywords: co-analgesics, neuropathic pain, indication, adverse drug reaction, pharmacokinetics

Published: May 25, 2015  Show citation