Tratamento farmacológico para dores crônicas: quais as melhores opções?

Introduction: Chronic pain is a debilitating condition that affects millions of people globally, severely impactingquality of life and functionality. Pharmacological management is one of the primary approaches for controllingchronic pain, though the ideal choice of treatment remains a challenge due to the diverse etiologies of pain and thepotential complications associated with medications. Objective: To review the available scientific literature onpharmacological treatment options for chronic pain, highlighting the best alternatives, their indications, efficacy,complications, and impacts on patients' quality of life. Methodology: A systematic review was conducted based onPRISMA guidelines, with a comprehensive search of the MEDLINE, Web of Science, and SciELO databases usingdescriptors such as “chronic pain,” “pharmacological treatment,” “quality of life,” and “complications,” focusing onstudies published up to 2024. Results: Findings indicate that medications such as tricyclic antidepressants,anticonvulsants, and opioids have proven efficacy in certain patient subgroups but are associated with significantadverse effects. Drugs like duloxetine and pregabalin were particularly beneficial for neuropathic pain. *Conclusion:Pharmacological treatment can improve quality of life in patients with chronic pain, but therapeutic choices shouldbe individualized to balance benefits and risks, particularly considering the potential for dependency and sideeffects.