A 58-year-old patient with metastatic pancreatic cancer reports severe, constant abdominal pain despite taking oral morphine 30 mg every 4 hours. He is drowsy but rousable. What is the most appropriate next step in managing his pain?

✓ Correct Answer: Option D

When a patient on a scheduled opioid regimen experiences breakthrough pain, the initial step is to administer a rapid-acting rescue dose, then reassess the patient's pain and the adequacy of their baseline scheduled regimen.