Dallas Schepers Dallas Schepers

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/66959

#### **Abstract**

Chronic back pain is a complex process and similar to how each patient has a very indi‐ vidualized disease process the treatment regimen should be similarly individualized. There are several different medication classes, each with a unique mechanism of action that can assist the practitioner in targeting a specific aspect of a patient's pain. The goal of this chapter will be to provide an adequate overview of the different medication classes while providing enough drug‐specific information to guide the practitioner in selecting and developing an adequate multimodal analgesic regimen. When designing an analge‐ sic regimen, an emphasis should be placed using a modified stepwise approach similar to the World Health Organization's analgesic ladder. There should be a focus on a multi‐ modal analgesia utilizing nonopioid medications for chronic pain. Patient‐specific factors should always be considered when choosing class, strength, dosage form and possible adjuvant medications. Just like patients, no analgesic regimen should be exactly the same.

**Keywords:** analgesics, paracetamol, nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatories, neuropathic pain, opioids
