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What does the term ‘breakthrough pain’ mean, and what type of prescription would you expect for it?

  • A patient who has adequately controlled pain reliefwith short lived exacerbation of pain, with a prescription that has no regular time of administration of analgesia.

  • Pain on movement which is short lived, with a q.d.s. prescription, when necessary.

  • Pain that is intense, unexpected, in a location that differs from that previously assessed, needing a review before a prescription is written.

  • A patient who has adequately controlled pain relief with short lived exacerbation of pain, with a prescription that has 4 hourly frequency of analgesia if necessary