Pain management – A pharmacist’s perspective

Due to accessibility and convenience, pharmacists are often the first point of contact for seeking treatment for pain. Patients frequently engage with us and use over-the-counter (OTC) products to manage their condition.^1(p2) If classified by duration and type - acute pain has a defined pattern of onset, site, character and duration, ^2(p37) the cause is often identifiable, lasting not more than six months. Chronic pain persists for over three months, or after healing is expected to be complete, ^2(p38) and is further broken down into either cancer or non-cancer. ^2(p38) There is increasing clinical evidence that appropriate, early, aggressive management of acute pain may minimise the transition to chronic. ^2(p36)