Drug use and distribution in a pain rehabilitation center.

A 23-bed hospital unit specializing in rehabilitating patients suffering from chronic pain by (1) reducing their consumption of and dependence on medication, (2) increasing their level of daily activity and (3) discouraging pain-oriented behavior is described. In addition to aspirin or acetaminophen, four drugs--amitriptyline, diphenylhydantoin, cobra venom extract and methadone--are used to reduce pain while other therapeutic measures are used to rehabilitate the patients. Methods for reducing the amount of analgesics taken by chronic pain patients are discussed. Unit dose packaging is used because the oral solid dosage forms (including placebos) are made to look alike.