Glossary

Our glossary explains some of the medical and legal terms used in palliative care. Glossary words are underlined in the Topics and Asked and Answered sections, with definitions appearing when you hover on a word.

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Opioid

A type of medication used to treat moderate to severe pain. Opioids are often started at a low dosage and gradually increased as needed until the pain is relieved or until side effects limit further increases. May be used in combination with other pain medications to improve their effectiveness. Requires a prescription.

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