What is intrathecal medication?

Intrathecal drug delivery, also known as the “pain pump,” uses a small pump to deliver pain medication directly to your spinal cord. The pump is surgically placed under the abdominal skin and delivers pain medication through a catheter to the area around your spinal cord.

What are pump drugs?

A drug pump is an implanted medical device that delivers medication directly into the intrathecal space, the space inside the spinal canal that contains the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which surrounds the spinal cord.

What is the most commonly used medication in pain management?

What are the strongest pain medications?

Opioid analgesics, in general, are the strongest pain-relieving medications.
Codeine is only about 1/10th as powerful as morphine.
Opioids more powerful than morphine include hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and oxymorphone (Opana).

What drugs can be given intrathecal?

Currently there are only three medications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use via the intrathecal route, ie, morphine, ziconotide, and baclofen. Morphine targets opioid receptors within the dorsal horn.

Who is a good candidate for a pain pump?

Your doctor may recommend a pain pump if you meet some of these criteria: You’ve failed conservative therapies like oral pain medication, physical therapy, and pain-relief injections such as nerve blocks and epidurals. You are dependent on pain medication and are starting to have strong side effects or addiction.

Which tablet is best for pain?

Ibuprofen – worth it score: 88% Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that treats pain, fever and swelling. Out of 892 reviewers, nearly 9 out of 10 said the drug was worth taking. You can expect ibuprofen to start working 30 to 60 minutes after taking it.

Which drug should never be given intrathecal?

Accidental administration of any vinca alkaloids—especially vincristine but also vinblastine, vinorelbine, or others—via the intrathecal route is nearly always fatal.

What are the side effects of a morphine pump?

Morphine use can cause a range of side effects, ranging from mild to fatal. These side effects can include: Nausea. Vomiting. Itchy skin. Appetite loss. Constricted, or pinpoint pupils. Urinary retention.

What are the side effects of pain pump?

Common side effects associated with the use of the Medtronic pain pump include, Urinary retention. Nausea and vomiting. Itching. Weakness. Facial flushing. Muscle twitching.

Are pain pumps safe?

Implantation of a pain pump is a relatively simple and safe procedure. However, an individual with a pain pump should be aware that there may be reactions or complications with their pain pump or catheter. Complications are rare but may include infections, development of a granuloma (tissue inflammation) or spinal damage.

How does an intrathecal pain pump work?

An intrathecal pump works to relieve chronic pain by inserting small amounts of medicine directly into the intrathecal space (area surrounding the spinal cord) to prevent pain signals from being perceived by the brain.

What is intrathecal medication? Intrathecal drug delivery, also known as the “pain pump,” uses a small pump to deliver pain medication directly to your spinal cord. The pump is surgically placed under the abdominal skin and delivers pain medication through a catheter to the area around your spinal cord. What are pump drugs? A drug…