A patient with cancer has been receiving codeine and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication for pain. The patient reports worsening of pain in both intensity and frequency. The nurse will tell the patient to contact the provider to discuss:

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As patients have increased pain, it is important to increase the level of analgesia. Hydrocodone or oxycodone is useful as pain increases, after nonopioid analgesics have been tried. Fentanyl transdermal patches are used for chronic, severe pain in patients who are already tolerant to opioids. Adjuvant analgesics can be used at any stage of pain progression but are used for neuropathic pain. Codeine is not recommended for cancer pain, because it has dose-limiting side effects; increasing the dose of codeine is never recommended.

A Patient with Cancer Has Been Receiving Codeine and a Nonsteroidal