Long-term use of narcotic/antidepressant medication in the management of phantom limb pain

Bruno J Urban; Randal D France; Eileen K Steinberger; Dianne L Scott; Allan A Maltbie

doi:10.1016/0304-3959(86)90041-2

Long-term use of narcotic/antidepressant medication in the management of phantom limb pain

Pain. 1986 Feb;24(2):191-196. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(86)90041-2.

Authors

Bruno J Urban¹, Randal D France, Eileen K Steinberger, Dianne L Scott, Allan A Maltbie

Affiliation

¹ Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710 U.S.A. Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, U.S.A. Department of Anesthesiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 22 South Greens Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 U.S.A.

PMID: 2870454
DOI: 10.1016/0304-3959(86)90041-2

Abstract

The successful management of 5 consecutive patients with intractable phantom limb pain is described. The main therapy is a combination of a narcotic and antidepressant. Medication remained effective during the average observation time of 22 months. There were no signs of habituation or addiction. We conclude that narcotics can be safely and successfully utilized for long-term management of phantom limb pain.

MeSH terms

Aged
Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage
Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use*
Antidepressive Agents / administration & dosage
Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
Female
Humans
Long-Term Care
Male
Middle Aged
Pain, Intractable / drug therapy*
Pain, Intractable / etiology
Phantom Limb / complications*
Substance-Related Disorders / prevention & control

Substances

Analgesics, Opioid
Antidepressive Agents