The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7217 p433
28 September 2002

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British Pharmaceutical Conference 2002 News

Poor control of chronic pain

About three-quarters of patients receiving treatment for chronic pain are still experiencing considerable pain and a third describe theirs as uncontrolled, a new study reveals. Less than half of the patients studied were taking the maximum recommended dose of analgesic prescribed by their general practitioner, with concerns about their medication being the main reasons cited. The researchers say that pharmacists could potentially have a key role to play in ensuring patients understand how to use their medicines to control pain.