Breakthrough pain

Treatment Phase: Initial treatment for dose titration

Clinical criteria:

• Patient must have cancer,

AND

• Patient must have pain directly attributable to cancer,

AND

• Patient must be assessed as receiving adequate management of their persistent pain with opioids,

AND

• Patient must have previously experienced inadequate pain relief following adequate doses of short acting opioids for the treatment of breakthrough pain; OR

• The treatment must be used as short acting opioids are considered clinically inappropriate; OR

• Patient must have previously experienced adverse effects following the use of short acting opioids for breakthrough pain.

Treatment criteria:

• Patient must be undergoing palliative care.