Articles: opioid.
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More and more cancer patients receive surgery and chronic pain control. Cell-mediated immunosuppression from surgical stress renders perioperative period a vulnerable period for tumor metastasis. Retrospective studies suggest that regional anesthesia reduces the risk of tumor metastasis and recurrence. ⋯ It will be interesting to examine the therapeutic potential of peripheral opioid antagonists against malignancy. Volatile anesthetics are organ-protective against hypoxia, however; this very protective mechanism may lead to tumor growth and poor prognosis. In this review, we examine the direct effects of anesthetics in tumor progression in hope that a thorough understanding will help to select the optimal anesthetic regimens for better outcomes in cancer patients.
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Middle East J Dig Dis · Jan 2013
ReviewThe Useage of Opioids and their Adverse Effects in Gastrointestinal Practice: A Review.
Opium is one of the oldest herbal medicines currently used as an analgesic, sedative and antidiarrheal treatment. The effects of opium are principally mediated by the μ-, κ- and δ-opioid receptors. Opioid substances consist of all natural and synthetic alkaloids that are derived from opium. ⋯ Underlying diseases or medications known to influence the central nervous system (CNS) often accelerate the opioid's adverse effects. However, changing the opioid and/or route of administration could also decrease their adverse effects. Appropriate patient selection, patient education and discussion regarding potential adverse effects may assist physicians in maximizing the effectiveness of opioids, while reducing the number and severity of adverse effects.
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Journal of pain research · Jan 2013
Morphine- and buprenorphine-induced analgesia and antihyperalgesia in a human inflammatory pain model: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, five-arm crossover study.
Opioid therapy is associated with the development of tolerance and paradoxically increased sensitivity to pain. It has been suggested that buprenorphine is associated with a higher antihyperalgesia/analgesia ratio than μ-opioid receptor agonists. The primary outcome of this study was therefore to investigate relative differences in antihyperalgesia and analgesia effects between morphine and buprenorphine in an inflammatory pain model in volunteers. The secondary outcome was to examine the relationship between pain sensitivity and opioid-induced effects on analgesia, antihyperalgesia, and descending pain modulation. ⋯ The present study, using multimodal testing technique, could not demonstrate any significant differences between morphine and buprenorphine in the profiles of antihyperalgesia and analgesia. Only high-dose buprenorphine was associated with a significant effect on the descending inhibitory pain control system.
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Journal of pain research · Jan 2013
Real-world treatment patterns and opioid use in chronic low back pain patients initiating duloxetine versus standard of care.
To describe the use of pain medications in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) after initiating duloxetine or standard of care (SOC [muscle relaxants, gabapentin, pregabalin, venlafaxine, and tricyclic antidepressants]) for pain management, pharmacy and medical claims from Surveillance Data, Inc (SDI) Health were analyzed. Adult patients with CLBP who initiated duloxetine or SOC between November 2010 and April 2011 were identified. Treatment initiation was defined as no pill coverage for duloxetine or SOC in the previous 90 days. ⋯ The duloxetine cohort had significantly higher MPR (0.78 versus [vs] 0.60) and PDC (0.50 vs 0.31), were less likely to use opioids (45% vs 61%), and had fewer days on opioids (median 0 vs 7 days) than the SOC cohort (all P < 0.001). After adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics, the duloxetine cohort initiated opioids later than the SOC cohort (hazard ratio 0.77, 95% confidence interval 0.66-0.89). CLBP patients initiating duloxetine had better compliance with initiated medication and were less likely to use opioids than those initiating SOC.
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Journal of pain research · Jan 2013
Consequences of the 118A>G polymorphism in the OPRM1 gene: translation from bench to bedside?
The 118A>G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the μ-opioid receptor (OPRM1) gene has been the most described variant in pharmacogenetic studies regarding opioid drugs. Despite evidence for an altered biological function encoded by this variant, this knowledge is not yet utilized clinically. ⋯ Studies using animal models for 118A>G have revealed a double effect of the variant receptor, with an apparent gain of function with respect to the response to endogenous opioids but a loss of function with exogenous administered opioid drugs. Although patients with this variant have shown a lower pain threshold and a higher drug consumption in order to achieve the analgesic effect, clinical experiences have demonstrated that patients carrying the variant allele are not affected by the increased opioid consumption in terms of side effects.