Opiate prescription medication dependence and pain perceptions.
Our study showed that the perception of pain lessens with detoxification from chronic prescription opiate medications. Thus, removal of opiates resulted in less pain, and chronic administration of opiates actually increased pain perceptions. The underlying pathophysiology of increased pain sensitivity from chronic administration is not well understood. However, the enhanced pain from the development of tolerance and dependence is a common phenomenon. Clinicians are advised to limit their prescribing of opiate drugs to patients on a chronic basis. Further, unresolved pain complaints, and continued complaints of pain despite escalating doses of opiate medications suggest addiction and its adverse consequences. Identification of addiction and detoxification is the proper approach to pain management in chronic opiate administration.
Miller
Norman S
NS
University of Florida College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Gainesville, FL, USA. norman.miller@ht.msu.edu
Gold
Mark S
MS
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid