Because many conditions may be refractory to specific therapy, and the duration of diagnostic workups may be lengthy, symptomatic treatment should not be delayed.
Patient complains of pain.
Obtain history of location, quality, severity, onset, timing, exacerbating or alleviating factors, setting in which it occurs, associated manifestations. For breakthrough pain, use a prn in addition to the scheduled dosage. Explain potential for opiates' interactions with recreational drugs or alcohol, which can result in CNS depression, coma, or death. Patients on opiates need to make alternative arrangements about driving and operating machinery. This combination of pain medication has additive effects so that pain may be controllable with a lower narcotic dose.