scholarly journals Problems and concerns of patients receiving chronic opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain

Pain ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 149 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark D. Sullivan ◽  
Michael Von Korff ◽  
Caleb Banta-Green ◽  
Joseph O. Merrill ◽  
Kathleen Saunders
2011 ◽  
Vol 3;14 (2;3) ◽  
pp. 91-121
Author(s):  
Laxmaiah Manchikanti

Background: Even though opioids have been used for pain for thousands of years, opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain is controversial due to concerns regarding the long-term effectiveness and safety, particularly the risk of tolerance, dependance, or abuse. While the debate continues, the use of chronic opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain has increased exponentially. Even though evidence is limited, multiple expert panels have concluded that chronic opioid therapy can be effective therapy for carefully selected and monitored patients with chronic non-cancer pain. Study Design: A systematic review of randomized trials of opioid management for chronic noncancer pain. Objective: The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of opioids in the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain. Methods: A comprehensive evaluation of the literature relating to opioids in chronic non-cancer pain was performed. The literature was evaluated according to Cochrane review criteria for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and Jadad criteria. A literature search was conducted by using PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, ECRI Institute Library, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website, U.S. National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC), Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness (DARE), clinical trials, systematic reviews and cross references from systematic reviews. The level of evidence was classified as good, fair, or poor based on the quality of evidence developed by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and used by other systematic reviews and guidelines. Outcome Measures: Pain relief was the primary outcome measure. Other outcome measures were functional improvement, withdrawals, and adverse effects. Results: Based on the USPSTF criteria, the indicated level of evidence was fair for Tramadol in managing osteoarthritis. For all the drugs assessed, including Tramadol, for all other conditions, the evidence was poor based on either weak positive evidence, indeterminate evidence, or negative evidence. Limitations: A paucity of literature, specifically with follow-up beyond 12 weeks for all types of opioids with controlled trials for various chronic non-cancer pain conditions. Conclusions: This systematic review illustrated fair evidence for Tramadol in managing osteoarthritis with poor evidence for all other drugs and conditions. Thus, recommendations must be based on non-randomized studies. Key words: Chronic non-cancer pain, opioids, opioid efficacy, opioid effectiveness, significant pain relief, functional improvement, adverse effects, morphine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, fentanyl, tramadol, buprenorphine, methadone, tapentadol, oxycodone, oxymorphone, systematic reviews, randomized trials


1998 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Haythornthwaite ◽  
Lynette A. Menefee ◽  
Amy L. Quatrano-Piacentini ◽  
Marco Pappagallo

2014 ◽  
Vol 5;17 (5;9) ◽  
pp. 401-414
Author(s):  
Chi-Wai Cheung

Background: Long-term opioid use for chronic non-cancer pain has increased substantially in recent years despite the paucity of strong supporting scientific data and concerns regarding adverse effects and potential misuse. Study Design: Review and summary of practice guidelines available on PubMed and Cochrane databases as well as on the Internet on chronic opioid therapy from June 2004 to June 2013. Objective: To review expert-developed practice guidelines on chronic opioid therapy, published in different countries over the past decade in order to reveal similar principles of therapy and to provide useful information and references for future development of opioid guidelines to identify adequately supported practice points and areas in need of further scientific evidence. Method: Seven guidelines were identified as pertaining specifically to the long-term use of opioids for general chronic non-cancer pain from an initial search of the PubMed/Medline and Cochrane databases using combinations of the search terms “opioid,” “chronic opioid therapy,” “chronic pain,” “chronic non-cancer pain,” “chronic non-malignant pain,” “guidelines,” “practice guidelines,” and “clinical practice guidelines,” filtered to include only articles on humans published in the English language over the past 10 years. Results: All guidelines espouse an individual approach to management, beginning with a comprehensive patient evaluation, with particular focus on eliciting factors that may indicate potential drug misuse and abuse, and a trial of therapy to determine the course of treatment. Goals of treatment should be adequately discussed with and consented to by the patient. Opioids are generally not recommended as first-line therapy but, when used, clinicians should closely monitor patients for loss of response, adverse effects or aberrant behavior, and revise the treatment plan accordingly. Urine drug testing (UDT) may be used as a tool to monitor for aberrant behavior or drug misuse; opioid rotation may be considered when loss of response or adverse effects are a concern, at a starting dose lower than the calculated equianalgesic dose. Limitations: Information on some African nations, countries in the Middle-East, and Pacific Islands is not available and therefore was not included in this review. Conclusion: There is a growing body of scientific evidence to support opioid use in chronic pain. Future work should focus on continuing to generate good-quality evidence on the longterm benefits of opioid therapy, as well as scientific data to guide drug choice and dosing for specific conditions, populations, and situations. Key words: Chronic pain, opioid, non-cancer pain, guidelines, opioid rotation, pain management, opioid therapy


2017 ◽  
Vol 234 (6) ◽  
pp. 989-999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus B. Schumacher ◽  
Stefan Jongen ◽  
Anja Knoche ◽  
Frank Petzke ◽  
Eric F. Vuurman ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milton Raff ◽  
Jim Crosier ◽  
Steve Eppel ◽  
Helgard Meyer ◽  
Brian Sarembock ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 3;14 (2;3) ◽  
pp. E133-E156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laxmaiah Manchikanti

Background: Opioids have been utilized for thousands of years to treat pain and their use continues to escalate. It is estimated that 90% of the patients who present to pain centers and receive treatment in such facilities are on opioids. However, in contrast to increasing opioid use and the lack of evidence supporting long-term effectiveness in chronic non-cancer pain, is the escalating misuse of prescription opioids, including abuse and diversion. There is also uncertainty about the incidence and clinical salience of multiple, poorly characterized adverse drug events, including endocrine dysfunction, immunosuppression, infectious disease, opioidinduced hyperalgesia, overdoses, deaths, and psychosocial and economic implications. Study Design: A comprehensive review of the literature. Objective: The objective of this comprehensive review is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of chronic opioid therapy in chronic non-cancer pain. Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature relating to chronic opioid therapy in chronic non-cancer pain. The literature was collected from various electronic and other sources. The literature that was evaluated included randomized trials, observational studies, case reports, systematic reviews, and guidelines. Outcome Measures: Pain relief was the primary outcome measure. The secondary outcome measures were functional improvement and adverse effects. Short-term effectiveness was considered to be less than 6 months; long-term effectiveness was considered to be at least one year. Results: Given the complexity and widespread nature of opioid therapy, there is a paucity of qualitative and/or quantitative literature. The available evidence is weak for pain relief combined with improvement in functional status. Only one drug, tramadol, is effective for pain relief and improvement of functional status. Limitations: This is a narrative review without application of methodologic quality assessment criteria. Even so, a paucity of literature exists concerning both controlled and observational literature for multiple drugs and multiple conditions of chronic non-cancer pain. Conclusions: This comprehensive review illustrates the lack of literature on long-term opioid therapy; thus, opioid therapy should be provided with great restraint and caution, based on the weak evidence available. Key words: Chronic non-cancer pain, opioids, opioid effectiveness, adverse effects, morphine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, fentanyl, tramadol, methadone, oxycodone


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