Pain Relief and Anticipatory Medication
During the final stages of an illness, managing symptoms is crucial. Medications may be needed to control symptoms as health deteriorates. If oral medication isn't possible, alternatives like injections or syringe drivers can be used.
Pain relief varies based on the severity, from mild painkillers like paracetamol to stronger options like morphine. Common medications for end-of-life care include:
- Midazolam: To control restlessness
- Levomepromazine / Haloperidol: To help control sickness
- Glycopyrronium: To manage excess airway secretions
- Morphine / Diamorphine: For pain relief
These medications can be given individually or through a syringe driver, which delivers a mix of drugs over 24 hours for continuous symptom control.
Discuss pain management options with your GP or Macmillan nurses early in the illness. As the condition progresses, treatments need regular reviews to ensure patient comfort. For syringe drivers, the process involves:
- The GP completing a community nurse authorisation form to set up the syringe driver and prescribe medication doses.
- The GP issuing a prescription for the necessary medications.
Make sure the authorisation form and prescription are obtained timely, especially before weekends and bank holidays, to avoid any delays in accessing the needed medication.