[Pain therapy with opioids: experience and thoughts of a general practitioner.].
Medical treatment with effective opioids for patients who suffer chronic pain is greatly lacking in Germany, as is supported by the documentation from Sorge and Zenz. The author comments on this documentation and adds an account of his own experience with the provision of opioid prescriptions over a period of almost 6 years. He asserts that the number of patients who suffer from pain has increased and argues for extending the indications for opioid therapy to include noncancer patients, giving reasons why pure morphine preparations are to be preferred. Finally, the author expresses his belief that only an expanded and appropriate application of today's concepts regarding treatment with analgesics and opioids will be able to clear the way for a liberalization of the laws regulating the prescription of opioids.
Herrmann
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Arzt für Allgemein-und Sportmedizin, Hamelner Straße 11, W-4926, Dörentrup, Bundesrepublik Deutschland.