Editing Terminal illness (section)

=== Medications for terminal patients ===
Terminal patients experiencing pain, especially cancer-related pain, are often prescribed opioids to relieve suffering. The specific medication prescribed, however, will differ depending on severity of pain and disease status.<ref name="Caraceni-2012">{{Cite journal|last1=Caraceni|first1=Augusto|last2=Hanks|first2=Geoffrey|last3=Kaasa|first3=Stein|last4=Bennett|first4=Michael I|last5=Brunelli|first5=Cinzia|last6=Cherny|first6=Nathan|last7=Dale|first7=Ola|last8=De Conno|first8=Franco|last9=Fallon|first9=Marie|date=2012-02-01|title=Use of opioid analgesics in the treatment of cancer pain: evidence-based recommendations from the EAPC|journal=The Lancet Oncology|volume=13|issue=2|pages=e58–e68|doi=10.1016/S1470-2045(12)70040-2|pmid=22300860}}</ref>

There exist inequities in availability of opioids to terminal patients, especially in countries where opioid access is limited.<ref name="Lima-2016a"/>

A common symptom that many terminal patients experience is [[Shortness of breath|dyspnea]], or difficulty with breathing. To ease this symptom, doctors may also prescribe opioids to patients. Some studies suggest that oral opioids may help with breathlessness. However, due to lack of consistent reliable evidence, it is currently unclear whether they truly work for this purpose.<ref name="Barnes-2016">{{Cite journal|volume = 3|last1=Barnes|first1=Hayley|last2=McDonald|first2=Julie|last3=Smallwood|first3=Natasha|last4=Manser|first4=Renée|date=2016-03-31|pages=CD011008|doi=10.1002/14651858.cd011008.pub2|pmid = 27030166|pmc=6485401|title = Opioids for the palliation of refractory breathlessness in adults with advanced disease and terminal illness|journal = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|issue=7}}</ref>

Depending on the patient's condition, other medications will be prescribed accordingly. For example, if patients develop depression, antidepressants will be prescribed. Anti-inflammation and anti-nausea medications may also be prescribed.<ref name="Caresearch-2017">{{Cite web|url=https://www.caresearch.com.au/caresearch/ProfessionalGroups/NursesHubHome/Clinical/MedicationManagement/PalliativeMedications/tabid/1554/Default.aspx|title=Palliative Medications|website=www.caresearch.com.au|access-date=2017-11-02}}</ref>