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Polypharmazie und Schmerztherapie

Polypharmacy and pain treatment

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Summary

Pain is a frequent symptom in clinical practice. Elderly and chronically ill patients are particularly affected. On account of the high prevalence of polypharmacy among these patients, pharmacological pain therapy becomes a challenge for physicians. Drug side effects and drug–drug interactions have to be taken into account so as to minimize the health risk for these patients. Especially the group of NSAID has a high risk of adverse drug reactions and drug interactions. The gastrointestinal, the cardiovascular, the renal and the coagulation system are particularly affected. Except for the toxic effect on the liver (in a high dose) Paracetamol (acetaminophen) has similar risks, to a minor degree, though. According to current data Metamizol is actually better than its reputation. The risk of potential drug interactions seems to be low. Beside the risk of sedation in combination with other drugs, Tramadol and other opioids such as Pethidin may induce the Serotonin syndrome. In order to avoid dangerous drug interactions and adverse side effects in the case of polypharmacy, it is recommended to prefer individual choices instead of sticking to the pain management as proposed by the WHO.

Zusammenfassung

Schmerzen betreffen besonders ältere und chronisch kranke Bevölkerungsgruppen. Häufig findet sich die Schmerztherapie als Ergänzung zu einer bereits bestehenden Polypharmazie. Neben unerwünschten Arzneimittelwirkungen sind es vor allem Interaktionen, welche es zu beachten gibt. Die Gruppe der nichtsteriodalen Antirheumatika (NSAR) hat das größte Gefahrenpotential. Im Vordergrund stehen gastrointestinale, kardiovaskuläre und renale Effekte sowie Wirkungen auf das Gerinnungssystem. Paracetamol hat neben der bekannten (in hohen Dosen) toxischen Wirkung auf die Leber, ähnliche Interaktionen wie die NSAR, allerdings in einem geringeren Ausmaß. Metamizol ist nach der aktuellen Studienlage besser als sein Ruf, das Interaktionspotential ist als gering anzusehen. Im Bezug auf Tramadol sowie auch einige stark wirksame Opioide (insbesondere Pethidin) sind vor allen das Serotonin-Syndrom und die ZNS dämpfende Wirkung zu nennen. Auf Grund des erheblichen Gefahrenpotentials bei einer bestehenden Polypharmazie ist es in vielen Fällen ratsam, bei der Auswahl der Analgetika vom WHO-Stufenschema in der Schmerzbehandlung abzusehen.

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Correspondence to Markus Gosch.

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Gosch, M., Böhmdorfer, B., Benvenuti-Falger, U. et al. Polypharmazie und Schmerztherapie. Wien Med Wochenschr 160, 286–292 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10354-010-0788-z

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