Which class of medication does not typically treat chronic non-cancer pain?

Prepare for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners exam with interactive quizzes, flashcards, and multiple-choice questions. Learn with detailed explanations and ace your exam!

Beta blockers do not typically treat chronic non-cancer pain. Their primary use is in the management of cardiovascular conditions, such as hypertension, heart failure, and arrhythmias, as they work by blocking the effects of adrenaline on the heart and blood vessels. While there could be some ancillary benefit in certain situations, such as management of anxiety or migraine prophylaxis, beta blockers are not established as a standard treatment for chronic non-cancer pain conditions.

In contrast, gabapentinoids, such as gabapentin and pregabalin, are frequently used to manage neuropathic pain and have shown effectiveness in various chronic pain syndromes. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are also commonly utilized in the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain, especially in conditions characterized by neuropathic features, as they help modulate pain signals in the central nervous system.

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