Long-term opioid treatment in Behçet's syndrome with intractable abdominal pain--a case report.
Opioids are the most potent and effective analgesics available for treating acute and chronic cancer pain, but its usefulness in treating non-cancer chronic pain is still controversial. We report a 23-year-old male suffering from Behçet's disease with persistent excruciating abdominal pain. Oral non-steroid anti-inflammation analgesics and milder opioids (codeine and tramadol) failed to relieve the pain. His excruciating abdominal pain resulting from ulcerative viscera aggravated with repeated gastrointestinal tract surgeries. Intravenous morphine given through patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) could effectively reduce his pain with minimal side effects. No sign of physical or psychological dependence was observed during the period of opiate administration, and no withdrawal phenomenon was found as the dosage was tapered. During the total treatment course of 213 days, the daily dose of morphine once surged up to 259.2 mg. The long-term opioid treatment and its possible effects are, herein, discussed.
Tseng
Hsiang-Chien
HC
Department of Anesthesiology, Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, No. 95, Wen-Chung Rd., Taipei, 10111, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Wen
Yeong-Ray
YR
Chen
Jui-Yuan
JY
Lee
Chia-Ling
CL
Wu
Gong-Jhe
GJ
Chang
Yi
Y
Swei
Shan-Chung
SC
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D009020:Morphine