Medications

Medications for managing your pain

Medications for pain management come in many forms such as patches, pills, infusions and creams. There are many considerations when starting someone on a medication for pain management not least what type of pain they have.

In addition the medications used in chronic pain are a significant source of concern for many patients. Many are worried these medications will cause addiction, profound side effects and don’t help long term.  Others have concerns that medications will be reduced unnecessarily even if effective.

The medication rationale at Northern Beaches Pain Management is to use better medications that are more likely to be effective, specific for the pain syndromes experienced.  In addition we recommend starting at very low dose to allow careful increase if working.  We are not usually aiming to start a medication for long term use.

In regard to the opioid medications (eg morphine, Endone) at Northern Beaches Pain Management.  We aim to minimise opioid medication usage for all of our patients whilst remaining pragmatic. 

We do this as a result of a great body of evidence showing how opioid medications help in acute pain (in the short term) but in the long term they are not often helpful and can cause profound issues. At present Northern Beaches Pain Management does not prescribe Cannabis preparations.  We are happy to discuss why at further appointment.  For further information in the meantime Link to cannabis statement