Types of Pain and Medications Used For Mesothelioma By Frederick Schenk

Almost everyone with mesothelioma experiences pain, the more so as the disease advances. Most patients use of a variety of pain medications to reduce pain and maintain their quality of life. Here are the kinds of pain that people with mesothelioma must deal with, and the types of pain medications used to control the pain.

Mild to moderate pain

Non-opioids: Examples are acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen. You can buy many of these over the counter, without a prescription. Some stronger NSAIDs do require a prescription.

Tingling and burning pain

Two other groups of drugs, antidepressants and antiseizure medications, have proven to be very useful in managing tingling and burning sensations. Taking an antidepressant does not mean that you are depressed or have a mental illness, and taking an antiseizure medication does not mean that you are going to have seizures. If your doctor prescribes one of these s/he is simply making use of some additional therapeutic properties of these drugs.

Antidepressants: Drugs such amitriptyline, imipramine, doxepin and trazodone have proved helpful in alleviating pain when there has been nerve damage. They are also helpful as aids for sleeping. A prescription is needed for these medicines.

Antiepileptics: Carbamezeping, lamotrine, and gabapentin are three of the most used antiseizure medications. All of these require a prescription.

Moderate to severe pain

Opioids: Examples are hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone, fentanyl and methadone. All of these medications require a prescription. Nonopioids may also be used along with opioids to control moderate to severe pain.

Breakthrough Pain

ACTIQ (Oral Transmucosal Fentanyl Citrate) is the first analgesic (pain relief) drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration specifically for breakthrough pain. It comes as a lozenge on a handle, a lollipop for pain. Fentanyl, ACTIQ's active ingredient, is a very effective opiate, 100 times stronger than an equivalent dose of morphine. It dissolves in saliva, and is absorbed through the mucus membranes that line the mouth. Pain relief occurs within 5 to 10 minutes. People find the drug easy to use, effective, and easily tolerated. Oxycodone and hydromorphone can also be used for breakthrough pain, but neither of these are available as lozenges in the mouth absorption.

You may also wish to read the companion article, "Your Part in Managing Your Mesothelioma Pain."

As a veteran California mesothelioma lawyer Frederick Schenk understands the obstacles in front of a mesothelioma patient. He offers information regarding treatments for mesothelioma pain and the different kinds of mesothelioma pain at California Asbestos Law.

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Smoking and Mesothelioma By Joseph Devine

Smoking tobacco products has long been held as the world's culprit for any disease. Fortunately for smoking, it is not the culprit behind mesothelioma. In fact, smoking does not ever cause mesothelioma. So far, the only scientifically linked cause of mesothelioma has been exposure to asbestos.

While it is true that smoking does not cause mesothelioma, it does not help anyone who has been diagnosed either. In addition, those who have been exposed to asbestos, either recently or a long time ago, should not smoke because smoking increases the chances of developing mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure.

Once a person has been exposed to asbestos, smoking is known to complicate the chances of developing an illness directly linked to asbestos. People who smoke and have been exposed to asbestos have 50 to 84 times the chance of developing asbestos as people who do not smoke and have been exposed to asbestos. There is therefore a related effect between smoking and asbestos, although smoking does not cause mesothelioma.

In the case of people who are scared that they will develop mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos, the best thing to do is quit smoking. Smoking is known to weaken and damage the lungs. In addition, it is known to reduce the body's natural defenses and ability to remove asbestos fibers. When the fibers cannot be removed by the body, they are allowed to stay in the lungs and continue to irritate cells. This leads to more cell damage and scarring which increases the odds of developing mesothelioma down the line.

Another nasty side effect of smoking is that smoke from cigarettes irritates air passages and causes the body to produce more mucus in the lungs. The production of mucus prevents air from getting into the deeper parts of the lungs and in turn prevents the removal of asbestos fibers.

Once a person knows he or she has been exposed to asbestos, the top priority should be working on quitting smoking. A smoker that has ever in their entire life been exposed to asbestos should see a doctor to be checked for symptoms of mesothelioma and other diseases that are directly related to asbestos. Even if there aren't any signs or symptoms of the disease, the trip to the doctor is imperative for early detection.

For more information on asbestos, mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases, please visit http://www.mesolawsuit.com.

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