3. Opioid Analgesic Agents
The goal of administering opioids is to relieve pain and improve quality of life; therefore, the route of administration, dose, and frequency of administration are determinedon an individual basis. Factors that are considered in determining the route, dose, and frequency of medicationinclude the characteristics of the pain (eg, its expected duration and severity), the overall status of the patient, the patient's response to analgesic medications, and the patient's report of pain. Opioids can be administered by various routes—oral, IV, subcutaneous, intraspinal, intranasal, rectal, and transdermal