Nonopioid Medications for Pain Management

Presented by Sarah Murray

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Video Runtime: 23 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 29 Minutes

This course will explain the principles of multimodal pain management and the use of nonopioid medications to control pain. In addition, this course will discuss local and regional anesthesia methods currently used to control pain in the hospitalized patient. This course is most applicable to nurses, occupational therapists, and physical therapists in acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, long-term care, and home health settings.

Meet your instructor

Sarah Murray

Dr. Sarah J. Murray started her career as an Army combat medic in 1993, then went on to become a registered nurse, graduating from Northwestern State University of Louisiana in 1998. Since that time, she has earned an MSN in adult health nursing from the University of Texas at San Antonio in the clinical nurse specialist role…

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Chapters & learning objectives

Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors and Acetaminophen

1. Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors and Acetaminophen

This chapter will explain the cyclooxygenase inhibitors and the drug acetaminophen, including their pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, routes, and adverse responses or side effects. This chapter will also review the pain conditions that are targeted by these drugs.

Antidepressants

2. Antidepressants

This chapter will explain the most commonly used antidepressants in pain management, including their pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, routes, and adverse responses or side effects. This chapter will explain the rationale for prescribing this type of medication to address pain by addressing the factors that are associated with the chronic pain condition.

Anticonvulsants

3. Anticonvulsants

This chapter will explain the most commonly used anticonvulsants (including the gabapentinoids) in pain management, including their pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, routes, and adverse responses or side effects. This chapter will explain the rationale for prescribing this type of medication to address pain, prevent pain, and improve sleep.

Other Nonopioids

4. Other Nonopioids

This chapter will explore the use of other nonopioids such as alpha-2 adrenergic agonists, ketamine, and capsaicin. This chapter will explain the rationale for using these other types of nonopioids as adjuncts to manage pain and reduce the amount of opioids needed for pain control.

Interventional Procedures

5. Interventional Procedures

This chapter will explore the use of interventional pain management using local and epidural medication routes for patients in the hospital setting. This chapter will also discuss the roles the interdisciplinary team members have in this modality of pain management.