Pharmacology and Clinical Relevance of Commonly Used Drugs

In the practice of interventional pain management, multiple medications, including local anesthetics, corticosteroids, neurolytic agents, and radiocontrast media, are frequently used. The interventionalist must make an informed choice among the multiple alternatives in each class of medication. For some medications, the mechanisms of action are still not completely understood, and patient responses may vary due to genetic, epigenetic, and other factors in unexpected ways. Most medication decisions are based on a combination of best available science, clinician expertise, theoretical knowledge, and empirical evidence.