Final answer:
The WHO analgesic ladder recommends transitioning from acetaminophen or NSAIDs to opioids for cancer pain management if necessary, with close medical supervision due to risks of side effects, addiction, and abuse. Total avoidance of sedation is not a part of the WHO recommendations, as sedation can occur when using strong analgesics to relieve severe pain.
Step-by-step explanation:
When caring for a patient with cancer pain, the World Health Organization (WHO) analgesic ladder recommends transitioning from non-opioid medications like acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), to opioids if necessary. This approach is a stepwise method for pain management that aims to control pain with the lowest appropriate dose of medication and adds stronger medications only when needed. Strong opioids such as morphine, oxycodone, and codeine, which can effectively relieve moderate to severe pain, are considered when other measures fail. These potent analgesics must be used under strict medical supervision due to the risks of side effects, addiction, and abuse. Since the options mentioned in the question do not directly align with the WHO ladder protocols, it's essential to note that complete avoidance of sedation is not generally part of the WHO recommendations, since sedation can be a consequence of using strong opioids to relieve severe pain.