Over the last 30 years the use of opioids has become widespread in the US medical profession. Unfortunately, a byproduct of this use has been increased addiction and death among the population. As opioid abuse has skyrocketed the medical profession has tried to look to other pain modalities. The veterinary community has been impacted as well. While our patients do not experience the addiction, the access to opioids has become more restricted. As a result, we have had to also look to alternative pain medications and multimodal therapy. This session will cover the pathophysiology of pain, opioid use as well as the drugs, both injectable and oral, that can be used both with opioids as well as in lieu of them.
Learning Objectives:
Understand the important pathways involved in transmission of pain impulses and how different analgesics can block them.
Understand the differences between opioids and what opioids are safer and therefore more available.
Know the different categories of non opioid pain medications, what type of pain they are good for and important contraindications.
