title: Principles of opioid pharmacotherapy: practical implications of basic mechanisms.
abstract: Opioids form the cornerstone of the pharmacologic armamentarium for the treatment of pain. Despite their long history of use, much confusion and misperception still surrounds their use. This short review will focus on pharmacodynamic and physiologic considerations in the clinical use of oral and parenteral opioids.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Pain and Symptom Management Program, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Ferrante
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000378:metabolism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D011957:Receptors, Opioid