What can be done if my painkillers are not very effective?

If your painkiller is not very effective, then arrange an appointment to see the doctor / nurse who is helping you with your pain control. They may decide to increase the dose of the painkiller, change the painkiller, try another form of treatment, or refer you to a pain specialist.

What can be done if my painkillers are causing side effects?

If your painkiller is causing side effects, then arrange an appointment to see the doctor / nurse who is helping you with your pain control. They may decide to decrease the dose of the painkiller, change the painkiller, treat the side effects, try another form of treatment, or refer you to a pain specialist.

Will I get used to my painkillers / will my painkillers stop working?

It is very rare for painkillers to stop working, although the dose of painkiller often has to be increased after a period of time.  

Will I get addicted to my painkillers?

Cancer patients who are prescribed strong painkillers, and who take them as directed, do not become addicted to their strong painkillers.

Do you have questions for the experts?

If you have a question about breakthrough cancer pain that you would like to submit to our experts, please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We will not be able to answer queries individually. However, we will monitor the questions that come through and will amend the website to incorporate answers to commonly occurring issues.

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