The Pharmacologic Management of Chronic Non-Cancer Pain

ABSTRACT

Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists for more than 3 months. While it is a common condition that affects an estimated 20% of the population worldwide, its management is generally unsatisfactory. Owing to its multidimensional and complex pathophysiology, a multi-modal approach is required to manage chronic pain. Pharmacologic therapy is an important treatment modality for this condition; however, in South Korea, pragmatic guidelines for chronic pain management are rarely published. Due to differences in the ethnicity and health-care settings, Western guidelines cannot be fully applied to South Korea. In the present study, new clinical evidences for chronic pain medications (acetaminophen, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, opioids, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, herbal agents, and so on) were reviewed and the pragmatic stepwise medication strategies for the following three common chronic pain conditions were developed chronic musculoskeletal pain (caused by osteoarthritis), chronic musculoskeletal pain (caused by reasons other than osteoarthritis), and chronic neuropathic pain.