title: Neuropsychological effects of long-term opioid use in chronic pain patients.
abstract: Opioids are thought to worsen the performance of psychomotor tasks due to their sedating and mental-clouding effects. As a result, some safety regulations currently restrict the use of opioids when driving or using heavy equipment. We investigated the psychomotor effects of long-term opioid use in 144 patients with low back pain. All subjects were administered two neuropsychological tests (Digit Symbol and Trail Making Test-B) before being prescribed opioids for pain; tests were re-administered at 90- and 180-day intervals. Test scores significantly improved while subjects were taking opioids for pain, which suggests that long-term use of oxycodone with acetaminophen or transdermal fentanyl does not significantly impair cognitive ability or psychomotor function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
authors.forename: Robert N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Jamison
authors.forename: Jeff R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Schein
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vallow
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ascher
authors.forename: Gary J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Vorsanger
authors.forename: Nathaniel P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D010166:Palliative Care
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics