What medication is commonly used for severe pain management in palliative care?

In palliative care, opioids are the mainstay for managing severe pain due to their efficacy in providing substantial pain relief. These medications work by binding to specific receptors in the brain and spinal cord, effectively altering the perception of pain and emotional response to it. This mechanism makes opioids particularly suitable for patients experiencing moderate to severe pain, as is common in advanced illnesses.

While non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be effective for certain types of pain, such as inflammatory or mild to moderate pain, they often lack the potency required for severe pain scenarios. Antidepressants and muscle relaxants serve important roles in symptom management, but they are typically not first-line therapies for severe pain. Antidepressants can help with neuropathic pain and muscle relaxants may assist with muscle spasms, but neither class provides the robust analgesic effect that opioids deliver. Thus, the choice of opioids is critical for ensuring an improved quality of life for patients in palliative care, where effective pain management is essential.