Analgesics

The aim of this chapter is to provide the reader with an introduction to some of the most common drugs used to manage pain in infants, children and young people (CYP). This chapter will also explore the concept of multimodal analgesic approaches, discuss the need for comprehensive individualised pain assessments, which are undertaken by healthcare providers in collaboration with CYP, parents and guardians and the importance of incorporating pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies.
After this chapter the reader will:
- Appreciate the importance of understanding the pharmacology associated with analgesic medications.
- Understand treatment optimisation in order to maintain therapeutic analgesic effects.
-Have a greater awareness of the importance of respecting individual choice, collaboration and utilising multimodal medication regimens for optimal delivery and satisfactory child-centred care.
- Recognise the importance of administering the right drug, in the right dose, via the right route, of the right time to manage pain.