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Treatment of Visceral Pain

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Painful bladder or rectal spasms may occur in some conditions.

For painful bladder spasms, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be helpful due to the possible role that prostaglandins play in bladder muscle contraction.

Painful rectal spasms may respond to diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker that reduces smooth-muscle contraction, which has been effective in the management of proctalgia fugax(shooting pains in the rectum). ([1])

Chlorpromazine(a neuroleptic) ([2]), and benzodiazepines ([3]) have also been used and their efficacy noted anecdotally.
 


[1] Castell DO. American Journal of Cardiology. 1985; 55: 21OB-213B Calcium blocking agents for gastrointestinal disorders.
[2] Twycross R G, Lack S A. 1984 Symptom control in far-advanced cancer: Pain Relief. Pitman, London.
[3] Hanks G W. 1984 Psychotropic drugs. Clinics in Oncology; 3:135-151.