[go: up one dir, main page]
Scribd
Upload
197 views1 page

WHO Analgesic Ladder

The World Health Organization (WHO) developed an analgesic ladder to guide prescribing analgesics based on pain severity - mild, moderate, or severe. The ladder recommends starting with non-opioid analgesics for mild pain, weak opioids for moderate pain, and strong opioids for severe pain. If a patient does not experience relief at one step, they should progress up the ladder to the next step of stronger analgesics.

Uploaded by

Jhop Santos
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
197 views1 page

WHO Analgesic Ladder

The World Health Organization (WHO) developed an analgesic ladder to guide prescribing analgesics based on pain severity - mild, moderate, or severe. The ladder recommends starting with non-opioid analgesics for mild pain, weak opioids for moderate pain, and strong opioids for severe pain. If a patient does not experience relief at one step, they should progress up the ladder to the next step of stronger analgesics.

Uploaded by

Jhop Santos
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

The World Health Organization (WHO) has produced an analgesic ladder to be used as a guide for prescribing analgesics.

Analgesics are staggered according to pain severity: mild, moderate and severe pain9. If a patient does not experience pain relief on one step of the analgesic ladder, they should progress to the next step.

Mild pain:
o o

Step 1: Simple analgesics (non-opioid)

Initiate topical and/or simple oral non-opioid analgesics (e.g. paracetamol, NSAIDs) + adjuvant e.g. tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants (pregabalin or gabapentin) for neuropathic pain. Step 2: Weak opioid

Moderate pain:
o o

Weak opioid (e.g. tramadol, codeine phosphate or dextropropoxyphene) + adjuvant e.g. tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants Step 3: Strong opioid

Severe pain:
o o

Opioids (e.g. morphine, oxycodone) + adjuvant e.g. tricyclics, anticonvulsants

You might also like