Opioid therapy

2021 ◽  
pp. 372-415
Author(s):  
Nathan I. Cherny ◽  
Marie T. Fallon

This chapter on opioids is in two parts: basic science and clinical. It includes the current evidence on where and how opioids work to mediate analgesia, non-analgesic effects, and unwanted side effects. In addition, the activity and impact of opioids in brain networks is discussed. These complex dynamic concepts are explained through functional magnetic resonance imaging findings and enables a greater understanding of opioid mechanisms. Mechanism and evidence of less studied side effects such as opioid-induced hyperalgesia along with immune and endocrine side effects are examined. Current genomic evidence and clinical application of this is discussed. The clinical part of the chapter gives complete information on the pharmacology of all opioids which are in clinical use, along with detailed information on when to prescribe and how to prescribe effectively and safely. Finally, the challenges of opioid prescribing in the twenty-first century are addressed. Identification of patient risk factors and appropriate prescribing and monitoring are presented in an agreed and practical way.

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (12) ◽  
pp. 395-397
Author(s):  
Julie L. Cunningham

Opioids are a well-established treatment option for chronic pain. However, opioid therapy is associated with many side effects, including opioid induced hyperalgesia (OIH). This article reviews studies which have evaluated OIH in chronic pain patients on opioids.


2013 ◽  
Vol 1;16 (1;1) ◽  
pp. 41-44
Author(s):  
Woong Mo Kim

Opioids have been the mainstay analgesics for postoperative, cancerous, and chronic noncancerous pain. Common concerns regarding the use of opioids include the development of physical dependence and addiction. However, as a potential complication of opioid therapy, opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH) is often overlooked. That is, patients receiving opioids to control their pain may paradoxically become more sensitive to pain as a consequence of opioid therapy. OIH is a very important issue because it may complicate the clinical course of pain treatment and even worsen the suffering of patients receiving opioids because of the development of excruciating pain. Three OIH types were defined: 1) in the context of maintenance dosing and withdrawal, 2) at very high or escalating doses, and 3) at ultra-low doses. In the literature, most attention has been paid to the first 2 forms, and almost all cases of reported OIH have been ascribed to morphine administration. The third form of OIH has not been documented in humans, although it has been observed in animals. We present 2 cases of OIH resulting from administration of tramadol, which is a synthetic analogue of codeine and exhibits 10-fold less affinity for mu-opioid receptors, in patients suffering from chronic pain. The 2 cases presented herein imply the importance of recognizing OIH in patients medicated with tramadol if analgesic effects are lost in the context of dose titration, when generalized pain is reported without any evidence of disease exacerbation. While OIH associated with ultra-low dose opiates seems to be quite rare, if it is suspected, switching to other drugs and an appropriate treatment should be considered. Key words: Opioid-induced hyperalgesia, opioids, chronic pain, serotonin syndrome, tramadol, ketamine


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 318-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khadije Saket ◽  
Jalil T. Afshari ◽  
Ehsan Saburi ◽  
Mahdi Yousefi ◽  
Roshanak Salari

From ancient times, medicinal plants have been usually utilized to treat many disorders, but today, interest in these herbs is again aroused, because of their fewer side effects and low-cost. In traditional medicine, for many diseases, various medicinal herbs have been suggested so far. Drimia maritime, also named squill, is an important medicinal plant for the treatment of many diseases, especially respiratory diseases. In the current evidence-based study, we conducted a review of the general characteristics, ingredients, administration form, and side effects of squill in traditional medicine. For this purpose, traditional Persian medicine literatures and electronic databases were examined including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Many compounds are isolated from D.maritima, including scillaren, scillirubroside, scillarenin, and bufadienolide glycosides. Oxymel is the most commonly used form of squill for various diseases, especially respiratory diseases. Besides, squill has been used in the treatment of cardiovascular, digestive, and dermatological disorders, it is also used against various cancer cells for its antioxidant and cytotoxic properties. Moreover, there is relatively reliable evidence of its benefits for bacterial and helminthic infections, rheumatism, edema, gout, abortion induction, healing of wounds and urine induction. It seems that supplementary studies are required to explore the bioactive agents and their effective mechanisms.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 610-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna Muscogiuri ◽  
Luigi Barrea ◽  
Barbara Altieri ◽  
Carolina Di Somma ◽  
Harjit pal Bhattoa ◽  
...  

Vitamin D and calcium are considered crucial for the treatment of bone diseases. Both vitamin D and calcium contribute to bone homeostasis but also preserve muscle health by reducing the risk of falls and fractures. Low vitamin D concentrations result in secondary hyperparathyroidism and contribute to bone loss, although the development of secondary hyperparathyroidism varies, even in patients with severe vitamin D deficiency. Findings from observational studies have shown controversial results regarding the association between bone mineral density and vitamin D/calcium status, thus sparking a debate regarding optimum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and calcium for the best possible skeletal health. Although most of the intervention studies reported a positive effect of supplementation with calcium and vitamin D on bone in patients with osteoporosis, this therapeutic approach has been a matter of debate regarding potential side effects on the cardiovascular (CV) system. Thus, the aim of this review is to consider the current evidence on the physiological role of vitamin D and calcium on bone and muscle health. Moreover, we provide an overview on observational and interventional studies that investigate the effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on bone health, also taking into account the possible CV side-effects. We also provide molecular insights on the effect of calcium plus vitamin D on the CV system.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 644-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinxuan Ren ◽  
Na Liu ◽  
Na Sun ◽  
Kehan Zhang ◽  
Lina Yu

Chronic pain is a common condition that seriously affects the quality of human life with variable etiology and complicated symptoms; people who suffer from chronic pain may experience anxiety, depression, insomnia, and other harmful emotions. Currently, chronic pain treatments are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids; these drugs are demonstrated to be insufficient and cause severe side effects. Therefore, research into new therapeutic strategies for chronic pain is a top priority. In recent years, stem cell transplantation has been demonstrated to be a potent alternative for the treatment of chronic pain. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a type of pluripotent stem cell, exhibit multi-directional differentiation, promotion of stem cell implantation, and immune regulation; they have also been shown to exert analgesic effects in several chronic pain models. Exosomes produced by MSCs have been demonstrated to relieve painful symptoms with fewer side effects. In this review, we summarize the therapeutic use of MSCs in various chronic pain studies. We also discuss ways to enhance the treatment effect of MSCs. We predict in the future, cell-free therapies for chronic pain will develop from exosomes secreted by MSCs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao-ran Yang ◽  
Xue-mei He ◽  
Xue-han Li ◽  
Ru-rong Wang

Abstract Background The number of caesarean deliveries has been increasing. Although intrathecal morphine (ITM) can relieve pain and is widely applied in caesarean deliveries, it is associated with many side effects. Transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB), a new analgesic technology, has also began playing a certain role after caesarean delivery, with fewer adverse effects. This study mainly compares the analgesic and adverse effects of ITM and TAPB in caesarean delivery. Methods We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science, for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published before 9 October, 2020 to compare the effects of ITM and TAPB. Primary outcome of the study was the pain score at rest 24 h after caesarean delivery, whereas the secondary outcomes were the pain score at movement 24 h after operation, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), itching, and morphine consumption. For the outcome assessment, we conducted a sensitivity analysis. Result Six RCTs involving 563 patients and meeting the study inclusion criteria were included in this study. Results indicated no significant difference in the pain score between ITM and TAPB at 24 h of rest or movement. The sensitivity analysis results indicated that the resting pain score (95% CI = − 1.27 to − 0.28; P = 0.002) and 24-h moving pain score (95% CI = − 1.8 to − 0.07; P = 0.03) of the ITM group were lower than those of the TAPB group. The consumption of morphine in the ITM group was lower than in the TAPB group (95% CI = 1.92 to 4.87; P < 0.00001); however, in terms of adverse reactions, the incidence of pruritus (95% CI = 1.17 to 8.26; P = 0.02) and PONV (95% CI = 1.92 to 4.87, P < 0.00001) in the ITM group was higher than in the TAPB group. Conclusion Parturients in the ITM and TAPB groups exhibited similar analgesic effects. However, in the sensitivity analysis performed by eliminating the studies causing heterogeneity, the ITM group was found to have superior analgesic effects compared with the TAPB group, with less morphine consumption. Differently, the TAPB group displayed less side effects such as PONV. Therefore, TAPB is still a valuable analgesia option for patients who cannot use ITM for analgesia after caesarean delivery or those having a high risk of PONV. Trial registration Registration number: Registered on Prospero with the registration number of CRD42020210135.


Children ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
Genevieve D’Souza ◽  
Anava A Wren ◽  
Christina Almgren ◽  
Alexandra C. Ross ◽  
Amanda Marshall ◽  
...  

As awareness increases about the side effects of opioids and risks of misuse, opioid use and appropriate weaning of opioid therapies have become topics of significant clinical relevance among pediatric populations. Critically ill hospitalized neonates, children, and adolescents routinely receive opioids for analgesia and sedation as part of their hospitalization, for both acute and chronic illnesses. Opioids are frequently administered to manage pain symptoms, reduce anxiety and agitation, and diminish physiological stress responses. Opioids are also regularly prescribed to youth with chronic pain. These medications may be prescribed during the initial phase of a diagnostic workup, during an emergency room visit; as an inpatient, or on an outpatient basis. Following treatment for underlying pain conditions, it can be challenging to appropriately wean and discontinue opioid therapies. Weaning opioid therapy requires special expertise and care to avoid symptoms of increased pain, withdrawal, and agitation. To address this challenge, there have been enhanced efforts to implement opioid-reduction during pharmacological therapies for pediatric pain management. Effective pain management therapies and their outcomes in pediatrics are outside the scope of this paper. The aims of this paper were to: 1) Review the current practice of opioid-reduction during pharmacological therapies; and 2) highlight concrete opioid weaning strategies and management of opioid withdrawal.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2794
Author(s):  
Stefano Maric ◽  
Tanja Restin ◽  
Julian Louis Muff ◽  
Simone Mafalda Camargo ◽  
Laura Chiara Guglielmetti ◽  
...  

L-Citrulline is a non-essential but still important amino acid that is released from enterocytes. Because plasma levels are reduced in case of impaired intestinal function, it has become a biomarker to monitor intestinal integrity. Moreover, oxidative stress induces protein citrullination, and antibodies against anti-citrullinated proteins are useful to monitor rheumatoid diseases. Citrullinated histones, however, may even predict a worse outcome in cancer patients. Supplementation of citrulline is better tolerated compared to arginine and might be useful to slightly improve muscle strength or protein balance. The following article shall provide an overview of L-citrulline properties and functions, as well as the current evidence for its use as a biomarker or as a therapeutic supplement.


Author(s):  
Niushen Zhang

The first-line treatment of trigeminal neuralgia can be very effective, but side effects are often difficult for patients to tolerate. This chapter is a guide to the broad selection of medical therapies currently available for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia which includes oral therapies and other non-surgical methods of treatment such as IV medications, nasal sprays, topical ointments, and injections. The discussion of each treatment includes discussion of its evidence in current literature, its proposed mechanism of action, its dosing and appropriate setting for clinical use, and its side effect profile.


2019 ◽  
pp. 221-245
Author(s):  
Roxana Grasu ◽  
Sally Raty

This chapter discusses postcraniotomy headache (PCH), a common yet frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated occurrence, with up to 30% of patients experiencing persistent headache after surgery. The chapter identifies risk factors for the development of acute and persistent PCH and describes mechanisms for its development, such as injury to the sensory nerves supplying the scalp and underlying tissues or to the perivascular nerves that supply sensation to the dura mater. Pain management following craniotomy is a balancing act of achieving adequate analgesia while avoiding oversedation, respiratory depression, hypercapnia, nausea, vomiting, and hypertension. Current evidence suggests that a balanced, multimodal approach to the treatment of acute PCH is often required to optimize pain control, minimize undesired side effects, and prevent the development of persistent PCH.


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