Long-acting opioids for chronic pain: pharmacotherapeutic opportunities to enhance compliance, quality of life, and analgesia

American Journal of Therapeutics
B H McCarberg, Robert L. Barkin

Abstract

Effective management of chronic pain has become an increasingly critical issue in health care. Opioid agonists are among the most effective analgesics available for reducing pain perception; however, their chronic use is controversial. This is primarily due to regulatory barriers, misunderstandings about pain management among primary caregivers, fear of adverse side effects, and misconceptions about the potential risks of addiction. Short-acting opioids provide effective analgesia for acute pain but should be avoided as primary analgesics for chronic pain management. Long-acting opioids have greater utility than short-acting opioids in treating chronic pain in patients with consistent pain levels. Results of studies show that improved quality of life is directly related to the use of long-acting opioids in patients with chronic pain of both cancer and noncancer etiology. Short-acting opioids may be used during the initial dose titration period of long-acting formulations and as rescue medication for episodes of breakthrough pain. Clinical experience reveals that selection of an effective pain regimen for the patient with chronic pain, combined with aggressive management of side effects, leads to improved overall functioning and...Continue Reading

References

Mar 1, 1989·Pain·David E Weissman, David J Haddox
Apr 1, 1994·Mayo Clinic Proceedings·J E Hammack, C L Loprinzi
Sep 1, 1994·CA: a Cancer Journal for Clinicians·N I Cherny, R K Portenoy
Dec 1, 1993·Journal of General Internal Medicine·D Brookoff
Jul 1, 1996·Disease-a-month : DM·R L BarkinS J Barkin
Jan 1, 1997·Annals of Oncology : Official Journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology·S Ahmedzai
Apr 29, 1998·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·R PayneR Mahmoud
Apr 25, 2001·American Journal of Therapeutics·R L Barkin, J Fawcett

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 25, 2002·Journal of Biosciences·S B Ray, S Wadhwa
Aug 10, 2007·Current Pain and Headache Reports·Dermot R Fitzgibbon
Sep 3, 2002·Journal of Pain and Symptom Management·Nathaniel Katz
Nov 13, 2001·American Journal of Therapeutics·R L Barkin
Jan 10, 2002·American Journal of Therapeutics·Kenneth S LattaRobert L Barkin
May 21, 2003·American Journal of Therapeutics·Bill McCarbergSteven M Schmidt
Jan 24, 2006·The Clinical Journal of Pain·Michael K NicholasCharles Brooker
May 13, 2006·The Clinical Journal of Pain·Jill E MaclarenJeffrey T Boggess
Apr 22, 2006·JAAPA : Official Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants·F J Gianola
May 23, 2008·American Journal of Therapeutics·Warren A Katz, Robert L Barkin
May 23, 2008·American Journal of Therapeutics·Allan Gibofsky, Robert L Barkin
Oct 19, 2007·Southern Medical Journal·Bruce Nicholson, Steven D Passik
Apr 2, 2005·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Jill G Klein
Jan 5, 2011·Journal of Pain Research·Robert J Balch, Andrea Trescot
May 7, 2010·CNS Drugs·Sean T Duggan, Lesley J Scott
Feb 15, 2013·Clinical Drug Investigation·Piercarlo Sarzi-PuttiniDiego Fornasari
May 25, 2005·Clinics in Geriatric Medicine·Robert L BarkinDiana S Barkin
Apr 4, 2002·Journal of General Internal Medicine·Yngvild Olsen, Gail L Daumit
Nov 26, 2009·Pain Medicine : the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine·Bridin P MurnionSarah N Hilmer
Nov 2, 2013·Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics·Nalini SehgalHoward S Smith
Jul 7, 2015·Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy·Tiffani D EisenhauerThomas Barrett
Dec 5, 2013·Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery·Paul Sloan
Dec 8, 2009·Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery·J TurgeonU Richarz
Aug 27, 2014·Current Medical Research and Opinion·Neil SinglaJim Young
Sep 23, 2014·Current Medical Research and Opinion·Charles E Argoff, Ernest A Kopecky
Aug 26, 2009·Pain Medicine : the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine·Perry G FineMary Lynn McPherson
Jun 26, 2015·Pain Medicine : the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine·Jeff GudinAlison B Fleming
Apr 22, 2004·Pain Medicine : the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine·J D Bartleson
Mar 23, 2011·Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery : Official Journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons·Gary F Bouloux

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.