Role of opioids for pain in palliative care

For patients with palliative care needs who are in the last year of life, opioid therapy usually provides the best relief of moderate to severe pain or pain that does not respond to other measures. Opioids are predictable in their effect and the dose can be adjusted precisely. They improve quality of life and allow an increase in activity.

Opioids have a role in the management of background pain, breakthrough pain and incident pain.

The role of opioid therapy in multimodal analgesia is described in Principles of pharmacological management of pain in palliative care.

Detailed information on starting opioid therapy, choice of opioid for pain, and use of as-required and regular opioids in palliative care is provided elsewhere in this topic.

For opioid regimens for pain in the last days of life, see Pain in the last days of life.