Palliation and Chronic Renal Failure: Opioid and Other Palliative Medications - Dosage Guidelines

Abstract

Palliation of symptoms is important in a variety of conditions, both malignant and non-malignant. These symptoms can be present in patients with chronic renal failure that may, or may not, require dialysis. In this review, a table of data is presented outlining the information known about the drugs and suggested alterations to both dosage or dose interval in renal failure and dialysis. Important changes are also discussed. It is also clear from the table presented that there are multiple medications where the interaction of renal failure or dialysis is not known. Caution may be necessary to avoid the development of toxicity from those medications or their metabolites.