Combination therapy and drug interactions

A multimodal approach is best suited for treating and alleviating cancer pain, often combining two or more analgesics for moderate-to-severe, refractory pain. Use caution when treating geriatric patients with a variety of agents, and introduce new drugs one at a time, in a sequential manner.⁴ When side effects are encountered or if a drug is used at its maximum safe dose without benefit to a patient, its use should be discontinued.⁴ Carefully evaluate the possibility of pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic drug interactions whenever multiple drugs are used concurrently.

Louis-Philippe de Lorimier, DVM
Timothy M. Fan, DVM, DACVIM (internal medicine, oncology)
Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Illinois
Urbana, IL 61802

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