Question

Which of the following administration routes of analgesics is NOT very effective in relieving breakthrough pain? A. Rectal. B. Oral. C. Parenteral. D. Topical. E. Transdermal

Answer 1

Breakthrough pain flares are generally unpredictable and is usually associated with a chronic underlying disease. The flare of breakthrough pain may vary in length and intensity. It may occur near the time patient is due for their next dose of pain medication.

Treatment of breakthrough pain needs a adminstration of anesthesia in a way which acts rapidly and last longer. The best and simplest way is oral medication. If a patient is not in condition to take oral medication, then second best option is parenteral administration. Beacuse they are more soluble than morphine and hence smaller volume of injection are required. However studies have shown that transdermal and rectal routes are also used effectivly in case oral and parentral admistration cannot be used. But in case of Topical route, the anesthesia acts only at local tissues through receptors and/or in channels. Hence it will not act on Pheripheral nervous system and centeral nervous system. So it will not provide releif from breakthrough pain rapidly and for longer time.

So, the correct answer of above question is option D: TOPICAL