Opioids for chronic noncancer pain Tailoring therapy to fit the patient and the pain

Opioids are powerful medications with a history that includes use for pain relief and, at times, addiction. This history of therapy versus drug abuse continues to cloud their prescription today, despite reports of effective treatment for the chronic pain that certain diseases can bring. Here, Drs An...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPostgraduate medicine Vol. 116; no. 3; pp. 37 - 44
Main Authors Antoin, Hussam, Beasley, Ralph D.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Taylor & Francis 01.09.2004
Subjects
Analgesics, Opioid - pharmacokinetics
Analgesics, Opioid - therapeutic use
Chronic Disease
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Drug Monitoring - methods
Drug Tolerance
Humans
Opioid-Related Disorders - prevention & control
Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care)
Pain - drug therapy
Patient Education as Topic - methods
Patient Selection
Urinalysis - methods
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Summary:Opioids are powerful medications with a history that includes use for pain relief and, at times, addiction. This history of therapy versus drug abuse continues to cloud their prescription today, despite reports of effective treatment for the chronic pain that certain diseases can bring. Here, Drs Antoin and Beasley review the use of opioid agents in medicine, highlight the importance of proper patient selection and education in their use, and convey how opioids can be a viable option today for successful therapy for chronic noncancer pain.
ISSN:0032-5481
1941-9260
DOI:10.3810/pgm.2004.09.1581