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Expert: Dr Alan Galbraith - 5/15/2007


Question
Dear Dr Alan Galbraith,
                      I would like to know why you prefer fentanyl patches and long acting morphine over methadone as an effective analgesic for an opiate tolerant patient with chronic pain?
This is in response to some advice you left Brian about "methadone for pain management".
Thank you, Renee

Answer
Dear Renee

Patient complience is the mean reason plus fentanyl has a much better analgesic activity Fentanyl produces less tolerance thus the does does not need to be increased very much. Methadone can accumulate in the dody particuularly in older patients which can cause problems. Morphine, by the way, is still preferred by mosst pain specialists for severe pain.

Regards

Dr Alan Galbraith  

Pharmacy

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Dr Alan Galbraith

Expertise

I can answer most questions on most drugs. Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.

Experience

I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease.

Organizations
Institute of Biology, London.


Publications
Author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" 5th Edition published in November 2007 by Pearson Education, Australia.

Education/Credentials
BSc(Hons);MSc;PhD;MIBiol; Cert Biol; HECert

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