Priority Areas - Analgesics
Analgesics are used in the treatment of pain, which can be defined as acute or persistent, depending on the length of time the person has experienced pain. Analgesic medicines have been the mainstay of pain treatment for decades; however, for persistent or chronic pain, individual response rates to analgesics vary greatly and failure rates are high. A number of analgesic medicines with different mechanisms of action and licensed indications are available; however, this priority area focuses on total opioid use, tramadol, and gabapentin and pregabalin, as concerns have been raised regarding the appropriate use and review of these medicines, in addition to the potential for dependence, diversion and misuse.